National

“CSOs need an enabling environment to thrive

Published

5 months ago

November 7, 2024

Arts Secretary Nicholas Moyo (second from left) flanked by East Africa Philanthropy Network Director, Evans Okinyi (left), Stigmata Tenga APN Director, Tendai Murisa of Sivio Institute and Justice Rutenga APN Board Chair

BY STAFF REPORTER

Civic society organizations (CSOs) need enabling policies to thrive and effectively partner government for development and colloborations on initiatives that address Africa’s pressing needs, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Arts, Sports and Culture Nicholas Moyo has said.

Moyo made these remarks while officially opening the African Philanthropy Network (APN) Assembly in Victoria Falls. The APN Assembly, which brings together over two hundred African philanthropy and grant making organizations from over twenty (20) countries is running from the 4th to the 8th of November in the resort town.

“This Assembly provides us with a platform to explore innovative ideas and solutions that work best for our people – as Africans,” said Moyo.

“Our challenges – be they economic inequalities, social injustices, or environmental concerns are interconnected. We must work together to confront these issues head-on, prioritizing the most vulnerable among us.”

“In achieving this, you require enabling policies and operating environments that the African governments are committed to provide through the implementation of the Agenda 263,” he said.

Moyo’s remarks come at a time that the Zimbabwe’s parliament has just passed amendments to the Private Voluntary Organizations (PVO) Act setting out a new regulatory framework for CSOs in Zimbabwe, a concern raised by Tendai Murisa the Executive Director of Sivio Institute, one of the Assembly’s organizers.

“Some organizations working within the civic space are facing closure should the Bill become law. It is our hope that the new law will not affect philanthropy work in Zimbabwe as these organizations merely compliment the government’s development agenda,” he said.

The Executive Director of APN Stigma Tenga said the Assembly’s objectives are to examine the relationship between philanthropy policy and practice.

“Our deliberations will reflect on African philanthropy’s potential to drive systemic change, and examine how actors could work together to celebrate and own indigenous practices as distinctly African and thus relevant to reshaping future philanthropy, as well as reimagine practices for contemporary application,” she said.

The 2024 APN Assembly is running under the theme collective freedom from collective struggles.

National

Ranger killed by elephant in Kariba

Published

4 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.