Category: BREAKING NEWS

Daughter of the Soil” Debuts in Nairobi, Spotlighting African Women’s Leadership as a Catalyst for Change

Michael Gwarisa

Nairobi, Kenya – April 11, 2025: The Alliance for Women and Girls (AFWAG) has officially premiered Daughter of the Soil: Sowing Seeds of Hope, a powerful new documentary that reframes African women’s leadership as a strategic driver of global progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Directed by award-winning Zimbabwean filmmaker Kudzai Tinago of Tigzozo Media, the film follows the compelling personal and professional journey of Dr. Vongai Nyahunzvi, Founder and CEO of AFWAG. From her childhood in Norton, Zimbabwe, to her continent-wide mission to dismantle barriers for women and…

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Rampant Sexual Networks Hinder Mpox Response in Africa

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Efforts to curb the spread of Mpox among African Union member states remain a challenge due to widespread and interconnected sexual networks, HealthTimes has learned. Uganda currently leads in new Mpox cases, accounting for 50% of all recorded infections in Africa over the past six weeks. The majority of cases in Uganda stem from the Clade 1B strain, which is sexually transmitted. Uganda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have collectively recorded 94% of confirmed cases since the beginning of the year. Speaking during the…

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Seasonal Wild Vegetables Could End Hidden Hunger in Zimbabwe – Expert

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa A University of Zimbabwe food scientist has warned that many exotic vegetables, such as lettuce and rape, contain significantly fewer micronutrients essential for growth and combating hidden hunger. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hidden hunger refers to malnutrition characterized by micronutrient deficiencies where individuals consume enough calories but lack essential vitamins and minerals necessary for growth and development. Speaking at a National AIDS Council (NAC) Editors and Station Managers Workshop recently, Dr. Batsi Chipurura from the Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences at the…

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Botswana Launches National TB Caucus to Combat Tuberculosis Crisis

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Botswana has launched its National TB Caucus, a landmark initiative uniting policymakers, health experts, and civil society to accelerate efforts in tackling tuberculosis (TB). The launch, held in Gaborone, aligns with global targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the 2023 UN High-Level Meeting on TB. With one of the highest TB incidence rates globally, Botswana is stepping up its fight against the disease, which remains a major public health concern. Tuberculosis continues to pose a significant challenge for Botswana, with an incidence rate of…

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MCAZ Warns Against Unapproved Advertisement of Medicines

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has raised alarm over the increasing trend of unapproved medicine advertisements, particularly on social media platforms such as Facebook, WhatsApp, and X (formerly Twitter). The authority has noted that celebrities and social media influencers are among those promoting these medicines, including herbal and complementary products, without the required authorization. MCAZ Director-General Mr. Richard T. Rukwata emphasized the legal and health implications of such advertisements, stating, “The unauthorized promotion of medicines poses a significant risk to public health, as it can…

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Road Safety Audits Launch Meeting Highlights Sustainable Mobility Initiatives

Michael Gwarisa

By Staff Reporter A pivotal meeting to launch a Road Safety Audits Training initiative was held on March 27, 2025, at Moto Republik in Harare, Zimbabwe. The initiative aims to enhance road safety and promote sustainable mobility across the country. The event was funded by the FIA Foundation through the FIA Safe & Sustainable Mobility Grant Program, awarded to the Automobile Association of Zimbabwe (AAZ). It brought together key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure Development, the Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe, and experts from organizations such as…

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Equality Now Urges Stronger Child Protection Measures at ACERWC 45th Ordinary Session

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Maseru, Lesotho – International human rights organization Equality Now, has called for urgent and reinforced actions to safeguard children’s rights in Africa during the 45th Ordinary Session of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). Addressing the high-level gathering, Sally Ncube, Equality Now’s representative, emphasized the pressing need for legal reforms and stronger enforcement mechanisms to protect children from harmful practices, violence, and exploitation. The year 2025 marks the 30th anniversary of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare…

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Regulatory Rift: Medical Aid Sector Say No to IPEC, While Doctors and Private Hospitals Say It’s Time

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa The medical aid industry and healthcare service providers appear to be at odds regarding the proposed Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024. If passed into law, the IPEC Bill will see the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) surrender regulation of the medical aid sector to the Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC), which falls under the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development. The Insurance and Pensions Commission Amendment Bill, H.B. 7, 2024, introduces significant reforms aimed at strengthening regulation, transparency, and policyholder…

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Mbare’s Bedbug Infestation Could Spread Across Harare if Not Contained

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Bedbugs currently tormenting Mbare residents are spreading rapidly from one block to another, raising fears of a full-blown outbreak across Harare if extermination efforts fail. The City of Harare announced yesterday that it would begin fumigating Mbare following reports of the continued spread of bedbugs. Simbarashe Chanachimwe, the Councillor for Ward 3 in Mbare, said previous efforts to eliminate the pests had been unsuccessful. In short, I can say they are everywhere in Mbare now. We fear that this will soon become a citywide outbreak,” said Cllr.…

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Over 83,000 Pregnant Women in Zimbabwe Miss ANC Booking, Threatening PMTCT Goals

Michael Gwarisa

By Michael Gwarisa Zimbabwe’s goal to eliminate mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B virus by 2026 could be in jeopardy as a significant number of pregnant women are still not registering for antenatal care (ANC). Recent data reveals that the country recorded 522,786 pregnancies last year. However, 16% of these women, approximately 83,000, did not register for ANC services, which include HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and counseling. The country adopted the Triple Elimination Roadmap for the prevention of MTCT of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B…

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