HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest mobile network operator, Econet Wireless (Econet), recorded an 11 percent increase in revenue to $377 million in the half year to August 2013, spurred by non-traditional innovative products. The group said traditional voice revenues were maturing and the introduction of a mobile-based money transfer system, EcoCash, and data services on the…
HARARE – India-based Essar Holdings (Essar)’s top management is in the country to conclude the $750 million deal aimed at reviving NewZim Steel, Industry minister Mike Bimha has said. “Senior partners in Essar were here yesterday (Tuesday) and they met with officials in my ministry as well as officials in the Mines ministry. Minister Walter…
HARARE – Sungura kingpin Alick Macheso and Extra Kwazvose, a band made up of his ex-band members, have both lined up shows in Mutare on Saturday. Extra Kwazvose, composed of dancer/lead vocalist Francis “Franco Slomo” Dhaka, drummer Obert Gomba, Congolese chanter Kasamba and lead guitarist Noel Nyazanda, will be performing in the Eastern border town…
HARARE – Controversial female dancehall artiste Brenda “Lady B” Bechani has released a gospel track called Muzambara. Lady B is one of Zimbabwean dancehall’s most controversial artistes due to her penchant for dirty lyrics and equally controversial videos. But she now claims she is a changed woman who no longer wants to continue in her…
HARARE – Topsy-tury local rhumba group BV Labien has suffered yet another break-up following the decision by band founder Cuthbert “King Vevela” Kasirori and six other members to form a splinter group. King Vevela, drummer Gift “Undertaker” Kamutana, bassist George Mvurakamaruva, lead guitarist Paul Gundani, backing vocalist Khumbulani Moyo and dancer Simon Gumbate have all…
KINSHASA – Government forces in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo have captured Bunagana town, the main base of the M23 rebel group, officials say. The troops entered the town on the Ugandan border in large numbers as the rebels fled, residents told the BBC. M23 political leader Bertrand Bisimwa was earlier reported to have crossed…
DAMASCUS – Syria’s declared equipment for producing, mixing and filling chemical weapons has been destroyed, the international watchdog says. This comes a day before the deadline set by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). Inspectors were sent to Syria following allegations that government forces had used chemical weapons in civilian areas, killing…
HARARE – Opposition MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, smarting from a devastating electoral defeat, says he is not ready to give up and will be Zimbabwe’s head of State. “I am determined to be the president of the country and I will be,” Tsvangirai said in a BBC interview in the UK. He brushed aside pressure…
HARARE – Constitutional Court judges have summoned Justice minister Emmerson Mnangagwa to justify the constitutionality of prosecuting a Bulawayo-based artist charged under the old constitution for publishing falsehoods. The court summoned Mnangagwa in a case in which Bulawayo-based visual artist Owen Maseko was seeking stay of prosecution, after being arrested for publishing falsehoods through “offensive”…
HARARE – Dozens of demonstrators besieged the United States Embassy in Harare yesterday to protest against sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. Demonstrators from the Patriotic Forum for Children of Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans chanted songs denouncing the targeted measures and calling on Bruce Wharton, the US ambassador, to remove punitive measures. The group was singing…
