Week 7
Een wekelijkse selectie artikelen uit Zimbabwaanse kranten
Unesco props up food security in Binga, Buhera
THE United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) is planning a four-year project aimed at improving access to clean and safe water and propping food security in two poverty-stricken districts.
The project titled Strengthening Local Communities’ Adaptive Capacity and Resilience to Climate Change through Sustainable Groundwater Utilisation in Zimbabwe will be implemented in Binga’s wards 13 and 19 in Matabeleland North and Buhera’s wards 20 and 23, Manicaland province.
Unesco is working in partnership with the government through the Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Resettlement ministry from 2023 to 2027.
It has a budget allocation of US$5 million.
Cholera outbreak in southern Africa: a multinational fight
The cholera crisis has engulfed southern Africa. As cases surge across Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, lack of clean water and sanitation continue to threaten lives.
In Zimbabwe, the situation has reached a critical point. Since the beginning of the outbreak, more than 22,000 cases and over 450 deaths have been repoted.
Doctors have criticized a lack of awareness about preventive measures among communities.
According to a UNICEF report, Zimbabwe is facing a shortage of investment in water and sanitation infrastructure. As a result, only about one in three households have access to treated water sources and sanitation.
Local firms partner council to restore Bulawayo’s glory
AS part of corporate social responsibility and the quest to restore Bulawayo to its former glory, a group of local companies has partnered council in implementing several key projects aimed at sprucing up the image of the city.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Paint and Allied company’s managing director, Mr Ian Hodgson said they felt obliged to contribute to the city’s development and economic growth.
The other companies involved are *Rodor Properties*, Big Brother Chickens and Acacia Insurance Brokers.
Bulawayo mayor Councillor David Coltart commended the companies for complementing council efforts to spruce up the city and said any company that wish to assist in a similar way can engage council.
Most Influential Microfinance Leader of the Year (SADC Region) – Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank
Congratulations to our CEO , Dr. M Marikanda for Representing and scooping this Most Prestigious Award Africa Bank 4.0 Awards (SADC Region). Award Category: Most Influential Microfinance Leader of the Year (SADC Region)
Japan donates US$1,3m towards food security The Herald (state owned)
Japan, through the World Food Programme (WFP), has donated US$1,36 million to complement food security in Zimbabwe’s vulnerable communities.
Japan is a long-standing partner of WFP’s assistance in Zimbabwe.
Since 2019, Japan has contributed over US$25,5 million to WFP-supported food assistance and resilience-building for vulnerable communities in the country.
Speaking during the signing ceremony held in Harare yesterday the Japanese Ambassador Shinich Yamanaka said the donation will help the vulnerable communities during the upcoming lean season, he said.
Cholera kills 454 in Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe has reported a total of 454 suspected and 71 confirmed deaths since the outbreak of cholera in February last year.
Monday marked exactly 12 months since the first recorded case of the cholera outbreak in Zimbabwe.
During a press briefing held in Harare on Monday, Deputy Cholera Incident Manager of the Health Ministry, Stephen Karim, provided an update, noting a decline in the fatality rate.
“Regrettably, there have been fatalities along the way. To date, we have recorded 71 confirmed culture-positive deaths and 454 suspected cholera deaths.
The country has surpassed the 20,000 mark in terms of all suspected cases, with a cumulative total of 23,935 reported cases. Of these, 23,147 individuals have recovered, leaving 233 patients currently admitted.
Zim makes strides in access to information The Herald (state owned)
Zimbabwe yesterday joined the rest of the world in commemorating World Radio Day, at a time when the country has made huge strides towards ensuring access to information even in the remotest parts through the licencing of 14 community radio stations and eight campus radio stations.
World Radio Day is celebrated on February 13 every year.
It was first celebrated in 2012, following its declaration by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) general conference.
Subsequently, it was adopted as an International Day by the United Nations General Assembly.
This year’s commemorations ran under the theme, “Radio: A century of informing, entertaining and educating”.
ZWMB promising real empowerment | The Sunday Mail (state owned)
The world over, women have failed to realize their full potential in entrepreneurship and economic empowerment due to financial constraints such as lack of collateral for borrowing and financial illiteracy.
Banks stand accused of providing too little financial support to women.
But in Zimbabwe, Government is now trying to change all that through the newly formed Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank (ZWMB), which is promising loans as little as $15, so as to improve women’s livelihoods.
The bank will leverage on agent banking to reach to the unbanked and marginalized communities of the country as they intend to leave no stone unturned in its quest to ensure every woman has access to formal banking and access to affordable funding.
The intention is to reach the bottom of the pyramid with basic funding for even small projects.
President highlights story of Zim’s resilience against odds The Herald (state owned)
Zimbabwe’s story is that of resilience, innovation, people-centred policies and the undying resolve to defeat illegal Western sanctions that have continued to pound the country for over 23 years.
Today, Zimbabwe is the fastest growing economy in Southern Africa, is one of a few countries in Africa to achieve wheat self-sufficiency, has an ever-improving standard of living as well as increased registration of patents, start-ups and new industries.
These achievements, in the face of great odds and many more , were unpacked here by President Mnangagwa in his address to the World Governments Summit early yesterday.
Huge strides in cholera fight, one year on The Herald (state owned)
As Zimbabwe yesterday marked one year since the beginning of the cholera outbreak, significant strides have been made in containing the disease including the rollout of the oral cholera vaccine (OCV).
To date, over 1,4 million people have received the oral vaccine since the beginning of the campaign two weeks ago.
The OCV is among the recommended and effective interventions for cholera control that complements other water and sanitation measures.
Giving the weekly cholera update, Ministry of Health and Child Care deputy cholera incident manager Dr Stephen Karimu said the vaccine had brought relief to the country.
Conference to equip women The Chronicle (state owned)
THE inaugural Esteemed Businesswomen Zimbabwe Conference edition set for Bulawayo in April, is expected to equip women with vital entrepreneurial skills and create an interactive network platform for women to professionally expand their various ventures.
The conference, organised by a local businesswoman, Ms Sipho Mazibuko is expected to be attended by the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, Deputy Minister of Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture Emily Jesaya and South African businesswoman and actress, Sophie Ndaba among others.
Zim nurses seek better conditions abroad but fear for patients at home
After Brexit in 2016 and Covid-19 four years later led to a shortage of skilled professionals in the UK, the country eased entry rules, leading to an increase in work visas issued to foreign health and social care workers.
From September 2022 to September 2023, 21,130 Zimbabweans were given visas to work in the UK, according to Home Office data.
In November, the World Health Organization said the number of public sector health workers in Zimbabwe had been reduced by at least 4,600 since 2019 despite increased recruitment.
