Author: Kuda Pembere

Feed and Fodder can generate USD25 billion for Zim

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwe for years has been neglecting the viability of the feed and fodder value chain which has the capacity to generate US$25 billion over the next five years. This amounts to an estimated US$5 billion economic sub-sector. Feed and fodder is an important component in the growth of the livestock sector. This was said by Zimbabwe’s Feed and Fdder Multistakeholder Platform vice chairperson Mrs Tendai Marecha in an interview following the Africa Union InterAfrica Bureau of Animal Resources (AU-IBAR) Resilient African Feed and Fodder Systems (RAFFS) meeting…

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Conflicting Sugar Tax Figures Spark Debate Over Transparency and Utilization

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere The implementation of the sugar tax introduced last year by Finance Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has raised concerns about the authenticity and transparency of the tax collection figures. In his 2023 budget presentation, Professor Ncube proposed a sugar tax on sweetened beverages, sparking mixed reactions across sectors. Initially set at US$0.002 per gram, the levy faced strong opposition from industry players, who cited potential negative impacts on business viability and job security. As a result, the tax was reduced to US$0.001 per gram in February 2024. Government…

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Delta launches campaign against alcohol and substance abuse

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Delta launches Delta Beverages launched a challenge dubbed ‘Above the influence’ which saw university students compete for top honours for the best innovation. The challenge is a partnership between Delta Beverages, The Boost Fellowship, and University students from 11 Institutions in the country that presented innovative solutions to combat alcohol abuse. The program is backed by a USD$6000 prize fund. Speaking at the event, Delta non-executive director, Emma Fundira highlighted the company’s long-lasting commitment to responsible drinking. “Delta has been involved in promoting responsible alcohol consumption for…

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World Vision joins child nutrition advocacy

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere World Vision has joined the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Civil Society Network through its global Enough Campaign, which focuses on tackling child malnutrition. The SUN Civil Society Network engages in nutrition advocacy, and World Vision’s participation underscores its recognition of malnutrition as a significant barrier to its broader programming on health, child marriages, and sexual abuse prevention. Nutrition advocacy is one of our new areas that we just want to delve into as World Vision. Why? Because from evidence, we have realised that hunger and malnutrition are…

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10/10 Open-Heart Surgeries on Children Successful at Parirenyatwa

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Ten children underwent successful open-heart surgeries at a medical camp held at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. The operations, conducted by a team of specialist cardiothoracic surgeons from Parirenyatwa and Egypt, began on Monday. Speaking to journalists after the surgeries, Parirenyatwa specialist cardiothoracic surgeon Dr. Simukayi Machawira expressed optimism about the children’s recovery. The operation was successful, and the children are breathing well. They can do most basic functions. We are expectant that most will be discharged next week,” said Dr. Machawira. Dr. Machawira outlined their goal to…

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Zimbabwe Resumes Pediatric Heart Surgeries After Five-Year Hiatus

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Amid an annual caseload of 4,500 Zimbabwean children born with heart diseases, the country has resumed open-heart surgeries after a five-year hiatus, with a week-long medical camp at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals. With the last medical camp for open-heart surgeries conducted in 2018, the Gift of Life International and local surgeons are now operating on 10 children under the age of 14. The medical camp was facilitated by the Rotary Club of Harare Central. This is our inaugural camp with the visiting team from Egypt, The University…

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SADC’s AIDS-Free Goal Could Be Attained In 2060 Amid Regional Gaps in Progress

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Ending AIDS by 2030 in the SADC region seems unlikely and may be delayed until 2060, given that some countries like South Africa and Madagascar are significantly behind This was highlighted by Ms. Anne Githuku-Shongwe, Director of the UNAIDS Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa, during a SADC Ministers of Health meeting held last week in Harare. So what does this mean for SADC, and how do we accelerate progress to end AIDS?” Githuku-Shongwe asked. “Recently, we were at a meeting in South Africa, and…

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Zim launches “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” campaign

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Zimbabwe on Friday hosted the SADC Malaria Day commemorations attended by Health ministers from member states while joining 24 other African countries in launching the “Zero Malaria Starts With Me” Campaign in Murehwa. Also present were health development partners. Officiating the event, Zimbabwe’s Vice President Dr Constantine Chiwenga said the elimination of malaria in the SADC region would pave way for economic development and prosperity. “The Theme for this year’s commemoration, “Resilient Health Systems and Communities: Key to Malaria Elimination,” underscores a fundamental truth that malaria elimination…

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SADC Health Ministers Moot Innovative Healthcare Funding Mechanisms

Kuda Pembere

By Kudakwashe Pembere Amidst the dwindling donor and partner funding for the healthcare sector in the SADC region, Health ministers have resolved to mobilise domestic funding as well as a pooled procurement mechanism. This was said by Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora who is the Chairperson of the SADC Ministerial Committee On Health speaking with journalists at the Annual Meeting Of SADC Ministers Of Health Responsible For HIV And AIDS. So I can just outline some of the issues that we talked about. Funding for health, for…

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PSH Takes A Stand Against Drug And Substance Abuse In Harare

Kuda Pembere

By Kuda Pembere Taking the fight against a disturbing trend of drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe were Chadcombe and Msasa Park residents who held a campaign against this scourge in partnership with Faith Ministries International Chadcombe, alongside Population Solutions for Health (PSH), the Zimbabwe Civil Liberties and Drug Network (ZCLDN). Gogo Rwasunda a resident in Masasa Park told this publication  she had to attend the event as her son is battling with drug and substance misuse. She resonated with the motto, “The Strength is in you to turn down…

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