National

Zimbabwe eases Covid-19 curbs, sporting activities return after nearly three months

Published

5 years ago

September 1, 2021

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe has further relaxed lockdown measures to control the spread of Covid-19 by allowing sporting activities to return after a nearly three-month hiatus as cases continue to decline.

The southern African country on Tuesday said it will also stop compulsory quarantine for people arriving from countries that were considered to be high risk for the transmission of the Delta variant of the Covid-19 virus such as India.

Information minister Monica Mutsvangwa told journalists in Harare that the quarantines were no longer necessary as the Delta variant was now behind 98 percent of the Covid-19 cases in Zimbabwe.

The biggest beneficiaries of the relaxation of the lockdown measures, however, are sports associations and sports people whose activities have been frozen since June when the third wave of the Covid-19 outbreak first hit Zimbabwe.

Gyms and sports spas will only be allowed to open subject to strict adherence to Covid-19 protocols and all workers should be vaccinated, Mutsvangwa said.

“Following representations from the various sectors of the economy, Cabinet resolved and wishes to inform the nation that gymnasia, health spas and fitness centres be allowed to open only to vaccinated clientele; and that all sports clubs must ensure that their coaches, managers and any support staff are vaccinated, ” she said.

For children below the age of 14, they must be screened for Covid-19 symptoms before being let in to conduct their sporting activities.

For athletes between the ages of 14 and 18, government said they should be vaccinated before they resume sporting activities.

“For all local activities in which the participants are below the age of 14, they shall, in all cases be checked for Covid-19 symptoms, have regular temperature checks and follow social distancing protocols,” Mutsvangwa said.

“Athletes/children aged 14 to 18 years are highly recommended to get vaccinated, and the national sports associations can work with the Sport and Recreation Commission to get this done.”

She said the decision to resume sporting activities was taken after a realisation that there has been a 30 percent decrease in the number of Covid -19 infections in the past week.

There were 1 785 new infections in the past seven days compared to the 2 564 reported the previous week.

“This reflects that the infection control measures being implemented by government are yielding results,” Mutsvangwa said.

“There has also been a corresponding decrease in the number of people in need of hospitalisation for Covid-19 positive

“The bed occupancy rate was 14.5% during the review week, compared to the 17.8% reported previously.”

Cinemas, theatres, and national art galleries are also now allowed to have 50 percent sitting capacity, but only for vaccinated clients.

National

Zimbabwe export surge, diaspora inflows mask funding gaps in foreign affairs sector

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Zimbabwe is seeing strong gains in export earnings and diaspora remittances, but lawmakers warn chronic underfunding is undermining the country’s diplomatic and economic ambitions.

Parliament heard that remittances reached about $1.8 billion by the third quarter of 2025, while exports rose sharply, helping cut the trade deficit. Lawmakers said the diaspora remains “a vital source of foreign exchange, directly contributing to the enhancement of the nation’s foreign reserves and overall economic stability.”

However, MPs said financial constraints are weakening the institutions meant to sustain that growth. The Zimbabwe Foreign Services Institute received only a fraction of its budget, limiting recruitment and training.

“The staffing shortfall has inevitably affected operational efficiency and the institute’s ability to discharge its core mandate,” the committee report noted.

Lawmakers warned that without consistent funding, gains in exports and diaspora engagement could stall, particularly as Zimbabwe pushes toward an export-led economy.

National

Government pushes vaccines drive as MPs warn of rural access gaps, misinformation

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwean lawmakers have called for urgent action to close immunisation gaps, warning that rural communities remain vulnerable due to weak access and persistent misinformation.

Speaking during Africa Vaccination Week, MPs said vaccines remain “among the most effective, equitable and transformative public health interventions,” but coverage remains uneven.

“Persistent gaps endure, particularly in rural and underserved areas where barriers of access, awareness and trust continue to impede full immunisation coverage,” one legislator told Parliament.

Lawmakers urged stronger investment in cold-chain systems and public engagement campaigns, stressing that immunisation is not just a health issue but “a strategic development imperative” tied to productivity and national growth.

National

EcoCash bill splitting signals rise of social commerce in Zimbabwe

Published

4 days ago

April 29, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

EcoCash’s latest bill-splitting feature on its Super App is not just a product upgrade, it is part of a broader shift towards “social commerce,” where financial transactions are embedded directly into everyday conversations.

Traditionally, sending money has been a deliberate, separate action: open the app, enter details, confirm payment. But with EcoCash’s integrated chat environment, that process is being redefined. Payments now happen in the same space where decisions are made — within conversations among friends, families and colleagues.

This development, which is being driven by Sasai Fintech, a subsidiary of Cassava Technologies, result is a more natural flow between communication and commerce.

This model, often referred to as chat-first payments, is gaining traction globally. Platforms such as Venmo in the United States and Revolut in Europe have popularised the idea of embedding payments into social interactions, allowing users to split bills, request funds and settle expenses within a messaging context.

EcoCash’s move signals that Zimbabwe is aligning with — and in some ways accelerating — this global trend.

Unlike many mature markets where card-based payments dominated before social features were layered on, Zimbabwe’s mobile-first ecosystem provides a different foundation. Mobile money is already deeply embedded in daily life, making it easier to integrate financial services into conversational platforms without requiring a behavioural overhaul.

By placing bill-splitting within its chat interface, EcoCash is effectively turning conversations into transaction points. A group discussing dinner plans can now split the bill instantly. Colleagues organising transport can settle contributions in real time. Families coordinating school fees or groceries can move from agreement to payment without leaving the chat thread.

This convergence of messaging and money is at the heart of social commerce.

From a strategic standpoint, the implications are significant. Each conversation has the potential to generate multiple transactions, increasing activity on the platform while strengthening user engagement. Payments become less of a task and more of a seamless extension of communication.

Industry analysts note that this model tends to drive higher transaction frequency and user retention, as financial interactions become habitual rather than occasional. For EcoCash, the bill-splitting feature is a practical entry point into this space, simple enough to encourage adoption, yet powerful enough to shift behaviour.