National

Calls for the media, artists and CSOs to converge for change

Published

5 months ago

November 7, 2024

VicFallsLive

Media Alliance of Zimbabwe MAZ Coordinator Nigel Nyamutumbu with veteran artist Chirikure Chirikure and Daves Guzha

BY STAFF REPORTER

Media and arts experts have called upon Civic Society Organizations (CSOs) to strengthen colloborations with artists and journalists in packaging development information for effective advocacy for improved citizens livelihood and open societies.

Speaking at the African Philanthropy Network APN Assembly running from the 4th – 8th of November in Victoria Falls, the arts and media experts bemoaned how the various sects have been worked in silos to the detriment of civic engagement and citizens participation in development work.

The APN Assembly has brought together over 200 delegates drawn from at least 20 countries as a platform to explore innovative Pan-African ideas that address the economic inequalities, social injustices and environmental concerns that confront the continent.

APN researcher and Tanzanian based journalist Karen Chalamilla said that CSOs, media practitioners and artists need to see value in each other.

“The crux of the matter is that CSOs, media and artists need to see value in each other’s work. These three parties share a lot in common in the work that they do in inspiring change,” said Chalamilla.

“Artists have the capacity to reach wider audiences that CSOs cannot ordinarily reach while the media have the necessary skills to harness information and use various mediums to prompt actions that bring about change.”

Prominent Zimbabwean artist Chirikure Chirikure said that there’s scope for artists and CSOs to forge partnerships that amplify developmental messages.

“Artists need to be equipped to understand the work of CSOs beyond just being commissioned to do one or two songs or to produce artistic works that are not sustainable,” he said.

“Philanthropy institutions need to include the media and artists in the formulation of their programs such that art practitioners can mainstream development work as part of their craft.”

Media Alliance of Zimbabwe (MAZ) Programs Manager Nigel Nyamutumbu said that the synergies between artists, CSOs and the media must consider the operating environment for journalists and advocacy for strengthening the media for accountability has to be amplified.

“For the media to effectively play its role of holding power accountable, informing society and as a conduit for the enjoyment of free expression, stakeholders in the civic society and artists need to be mobilized to advocate for an improved policy environment for the media,” said Nyamutumbu.

“The media on the other hand must appreciate the concerns of CSOs and capacitated to articulate developmental issues and to amplify the work of artists.”

The APN is running under the theme “Collective freedom from collective struggle” and has among the dignatries top government officials including Arts, Sports and Culture Secretary Nicholas Moyo, veteran film director and producer Daves Guzha and prominent civic society activist Brian Kagoro.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

3 weeks ago

March 14, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

A 62-year-old ranger, Josphat Mandishara, was tragically killed by an elephant in Kariba yesterday.

Mandishara, who worked for the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks), was on patrol in the Gatche-gatche area with fellow rangers and police officers.

At around 10 pm, Mandishara returned to the harbor where their boat was docked, and that’s when he encountered the elephant. The elephant charged at him, causing fatal injuries. His colleagues were nearby, resupplying at the Gatche-gatche Irrigation Scheme.

Mandishara’s body was taken to Kariba District Hospital for a post-mortem, and the incident was reported to the police.

ZimParks has sent a team to manage the problem elephant and prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Director General of ZimParks, Prof. Edson Gandiwa, and his team have sent condolences to Mandishara’s family, friends, and colleagues. Mandishara will be remembered for his dedication to wildlife conservation in Zimbabwe.

National

ZIMRA customs officer appears in court for criminal abuse of office

Published

2 months ago

February 3, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) customs officer, Phillip Kuvenga, has been accused of criminal abuse of office for allegedly assisting in the importation of banned motor vehicles.

Kuvenga, 28, who is stationed at Victoria Falls, allegedly received documents from clients, completed valuation sheets, and carried out the valuation process. However, he is accused of endorsing different chassis numbers to deceive his supervisors during the validation and approval process.

After obtaining approval, Kuvenga would capture the correct chassis numbers in the ASYCUDA World System. He would then alter or replace the documents submitted earlier to his supervisors.

The offense came to light when a motor vehicle that had not yet arrived in Zimbabwe was found to have been already registered. A thorough check by ZIMRA led to Kuvenga’s arrest.

Kuvenga appeared in court on February 1, where he was denied bail by Magistrate Gift Manyka. He is expected to appear in court again today for another bail hearing.

National

Retailers send Mnangagwa SOS as shops continue shutting down over operational woes

Published

2 months ago

January 27, 2025

VicFallsLive

BY ZIMLIVE

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) has implored President Emmerson Mnangagwa to intervene and save the sector which has seen various formal retail and wholesale businesses closing shop countrywide due to operational challenges.

In a statement on Sunday, CZR president Denford Mutashu said the continued closure of formal retail and wholesale businesses is a direct consequence of the tough economic environment that has consistently failed to support formalised sector players who face stiff competition from informal businesses and vendors the majority of whom have no tax obligations to deal with.

Mutashu said his association was concerned that authorities continue to downplay the crisis.

“The recent closure of several outlets under the N. Richards Group, coupled with Spar Zimbabwe’s painful decision to shut down Queensdale Spar, Choppies Zimbabwe’s exit from the market, and Mahommed Mussa’s significant reduction of shop space by 60%, highlights the growing crisis.

“As the representative association for these and other brands, CZR is alarmed that while formal businesses face enormous challenges, the authorities continue to present a different picture of the operating environment,” he said.

Given the situation, Mutashu said, only President Mnangagwa can rescue the troubled sector.

“CZR therefore calls for urgent intervention from His Excellency, President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, to rescue what remains of the formalized retail and wholesale sector,” said Mutashu.

He said the sector was in urgent need of rescue.

“While CZR acknowledges the continued support from the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it is clear that the root causes of these challenges are fiscal and monetary in nature. These require urgent and decisive action to ensure the survival of formal businesses.

“CZR therefore appeals to the Presidium to prioritize interventions aimed at saving jobs and mitigating the ongoing wave of shop closures and retrenchments,” he said.