RUSITU – When Cyclone Eline hit eastern Zimbabwe more than a decade ago, it did not just leave a trail of destruction, but seeds of a previously unknown and now invasive plant in the Muchadziya community in Rusitu. The plant is now referred to as ‘Cyclone,’ by villagers in the area. “We only began to…
HARARE – Perched at the eastern end of Daramombe Hills, about 45 km from Chivhu, Daramombe High School emerged at independence in 1980 as one of the best schools in Zimbabwe. Following its destruction by war in the 1970s, the Anglican Church-owned school in Mashonaland East’s Chikomba district was brought to modern standards by former…
GUTU – Buhera South villagers are up in arms against local MP Joseph Chinotimba after he banned a bus plying Muzokomba Gweru route because it was operating during odd hours. According to Chinotimba, the bus plied the route during wee hours, putting lives at risk from marauding hyenas. The ban has angered villagers here who…
HARARE – Elizabeth Macheka once described her husband, Morgan Tsvangirai as a good man with a big heart. What could go wrong for the couple? While last week’s announcement that they were on separation had the surprise quotient of a snowfall in the Lowveld, many Zimbabweans were intrigued by its timing. The Tsvangirais have scowled…
HARARE – The World Bank has insisted that it will not extend any financial assistance to Zimbabwe under the Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC) facility unless the country clears its arrears in excess of $6,1 billion. In its annual report released last December, the Bretton Woods institution noted that the southern African country remains in…
HARARE – Essar Africa Holdings (Essar) has put on hold plans to build an iron ore beneficiation plant in Chivhu as government delays transferring reserves to the Indian firm. The Asian steel giant — holding a 54 percent stake in NewZim Steel, formerly state-owned Ziscosteel —indicated that it could only commence the project after getting…
HARARE – Reigning Miss Carnival Dananai Chipunza raised Zimbabwe’s flag high during the just-ended Miss Tourism International held in Malaysia. The dazzling Chipunza, who was battling for the coveted crown against 60 other contestants in Putrajaya just outside Kuala Lumpur on New Year’s Eve, earned a place in the top 10. The inaugural Miss Carnival…
HARARE – Government has again failed to allocate 15 percent of the national budget to the Health and Child Care ministry as stipulated under the Abuja Declaration, a local human rights organisation has complained. Zimbabwe is a signatory to the 2001 Abuja Declaration which requires that member states allocate 15 percent of the total national…
HARARE – Zimbabwe’s steel maker New Zimbabwe Steel, formerly Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Ziscosteel), will be revived this month, a government official has said — a reopening that could stem the destitution stalking Redcliff in the wake of the mining group’s shutdown. Mike Bimha, Industry and Commerce minister, told the Daily News yesterday that…
MASVINGO – Rains that fell here have only managed to raise water levels in the drying Lake Mutirikwi by 2 percent. The Masvingo City Council declared a state of emergency last month because of a severe shortage of fresh water. Lake Mutirikwi water levels are still at critical levels, amid fears water supplies in some…
