National

USAID launches programme to support Zim journalists report on wildlife crime, conservation

Published

3 years ago

April 7, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has launched a programme to support Zimbabwean journalists specialising in wildlife crime and conservation to help improve coverage of the issues.

Mike Pflanz from Space for Giants, which is implementing the programme under USAID’s Vuka Now Activity, said six journalists from different media houses will be assisted to tackle increasing wildlife crime in Zimbabwe and help amplify local voices in the international and domestic debates about wildlife protection.

“It’s a very simple idea which is that there is a huge threat to the natural landscape in wildlife and the ecosystems in countries like Zimbabwe and these are things that can bring significant value to people and to governments as well as to preserve nature,” Pflanz said in Victoria Falls where the journalists underwent three day training.

“So what the programme aims to do is to work with professional Zimbabwean journalists, six of them from different media outlets and just help them do what they already do very well, which is to write about conservation and to do that even better.

“So we are helping them with financing, mentoring, contacts, statistics and reports that allow them to improve and increase coverage on the issues.

Pflanz said the programmes’ other goal was to increase the quality of stories the journalists produce so that they can inform their readers better.

“I think this is really important that we get this as clear and accurate to readers and viewers as possible and they can make a choice (such as) do I support the idea of conservation?, or do I think it should be used for something else,” he said.

“So that is a choice people of Zimbabwe can individually or collectively make if they have accurate information and that’s really what this programme is about, to support journalists to give their readers and viewers that kind of information.”

Pflanz said six other journalists from Botswana have already been trained and they were also planning to launch the programme in Angola and Mozambique.

Space for Giants on its website says wildlife crime is a multi-billion-dollar illicit business, which decimates Africa’s wildlife and undermines economic prosperity and sustainable development.

“It also threatens social stability and cohesion, impoverishes people of cultural and natural heritage,” it says.

National

ZESA struggles to meet demand as Hwange fault and Kariba dam water levels bite

Published

23 hours ago

November 13, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority, ZESA has announced that the national power grid is experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station and low water levels at Kariba Dam.

“ZESA Holdings would like to advise its valued stakeholders that the national power grid is currently experiencing reduced electricity generation capacity due to a technical fault at Hwange Power Station,”

“This has been further compounded by low generation capacity at Kariba Power Station, resulting from low water levels.

Our technical teams are actively working to resolve the fault at Hwange to minimize the impact on our customers.”

ZESA STATEMENT

Meanwhile, the Zambezi River Authority has sounded the alarm on the dire water levels at Kariba Dam, which has dropped to a critically low 2.40%.

This has left Zimbabwe and Zambia facing a precarious electricity supply situation.

As the power cuts continue, communities are feeling the brunt of the outages.

Businesses are struggling to operate, and residents are forced to go without electricity for extended periods. The situation has also affected water supply, communication, and healthcare services.

Other news organizations and research have highlighted the severity of the power crisis in Zimbabwe.

According to a report by the Zimbabwe Coalition on Debt and Development, the country’s energy sector is facing a myriad of challenges, including aging infrastructure, lack of investment, and a heavy reliance on imported electricity.

The report notes that the power cuts have had a devastating impact on the economy, with businesses losing millions of dollars in productivity and revenue.

The situation has also affected the livelihoods of ordinary Zimbabweans, who are struggling to access basic services like healthcare and education.

National

Stepdad accused of killing three months old daughter

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

A Shurugwi stepfather has appeared in court facing allegations of poisoning to death his 3-month-old stepdaughter.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, Tatenda Masunda (24) appeared before the Shurugwi Magistrates’ Court facing a murder charge.

The State alleges that on the 3rd of November, at around 5 AM, the accused stopped the infant’s mother from taking the baby with her to a nearby borehole where she intended to do the laundry.

He then retrieved a poisonous substance, commonly used in gold purification, which he had hidden in the yard, and fed it to the infant.

The accused later brought the visibly distressed and crying infant to the mother.

The mother rushed the infant to Zvamabande Hospital.

She was referred to Shurugwi District Hospital, where the baby was pronounced dead upon arrival.

The accused fled to Chegutu, where he was arrested on the following day.

He was remanded to the 21st of November
pending investigations.

National

UK scam lands two in court

Published

2 days ago

November 12, 2024

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Two women have appeared in the Magistrates’ court in Bulawayo charged with fraud.

Nokuthula Sibanda and Nothando Ndlovu allegedly received a total of $5 730 from the complainant on the pretext of securing a UK sponsorship certificate for her daughter sometime last year.

However, the accused persons provided conflicting information during numerous follow-ups, leading the complainant to report the matter to the police.

The pair was remanded to November 18.

The state alleges that the complainant and her daughter approached Sibanda seeking assistance to secure a UK sponsorship certificate for her daughter.

Sibanda and Ndlovu, acting in connivance, promised to facilitate the process upon payment of a registration fee of $230 and a processing fee of $5 300.

The complainant paid the registration fee and an additional $5 300 on May 2 .

She also paid the remaining $200 on May 3

The accused persons assured her that her daughter would depart for the UK in August.

Despite numerous follow-ups, the complainant received conflicting information, leading her to report the matter to the police.

The total amount lost by the complainant is $5 730, which has not been recovered.