National

Measles kills 80 children as outbreak spreads across Zimbabwe

Published

4 years ago

August 15, 2022

BY NOKUTHABA DLAMINI

Zimbabwe has been hit by a measles outbreak that has so far killed 80 children as authorities blamed large church gatherings for the spread of the disease.

Health and Child Care ministry’s permanent secretary Jasper Chimedza said Manicaland was hardest hit by the outbreak, which has killed 45 children in the province since April

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to inform the public that the ongoing outbreak of measles, which was first reported on the 10th of April 2022 in Mutasa district of Manicaland Province has since spread nationwide following church gatherings,” Chimedza said in a statement.

“These gatherings, which were attended by people from different provinces of the country with unknown vaccination status, led to the spread of measles to previously unaffected areas.

“As of the 11th of August 2022, a total of 1036 suspected cases, 125 laboratory confirmed cases and 80 deaths have been reported since the onset of the outbreak resulting in a Case Fatality Rate of 6.9 %.

“Manicaland has constituted the highest number of cases (356) and 45 deaths.”

He said most of the cases were children aged six months to 15 years from religious sects, who were not vaccinated against measles due to religious beliefs.

What is measles?

According to the health ministry, measles is a highly contagious respiratory tract viral infection commonly found in children and is spread through sneezing and coughing as well as by touching or contact with secretions of an infected individual.

The symptoms

“The symptoms start with a cough, fever and then skin rash,” Chimedza said.

“The high fever usually begins about 10 to 12 days after exposure to the virus and lasts four to seven days.

“A runny nose, a cough, red and watery eyes and small white spots inside the cheeks can develop in the initial stage.

“After several days, a rash erupts on the face and spreads to the whole body.

“The public is advised that the risk of developing a severe form of measles or dying from complications of measles is very high among unvaccinated children under 15 years.”

Public health measures

Chimedza said the ministry has mobilised adequate human and financial resources from within the government and partners to curb the further spread of measles and avoid unnecessary deaths, which include health education, laboratory testing and mass vaccination campaign targeting the affected age group.

Treatment of measles

Chimedza said the mainstay of treatment of measles is supportive as the disease is self-limiting.

“However, severe complications from measles can be reduced through supportive care that ensures good nutrition, adequate fluid intake and treatment of dehydration with the World Health Organisation recommended oral rehydration solution,” he said.

“This solution replaces fluids and other essential elements that are lost through diarrhoea or vomiting and antibiotics are prescribed to treat eye and ear infections as well as pneumonia.

“All children diagnosed with measles should receive two doses of vitamin A supplement at the nearest health facility.

“This treatment restores low vitamin A levels during measles that occur in even well-nourished children, and can help prevent damage and blindness all as symptomatic children should receive the measles vaccines as a prevention measure.”

National

EcoCash launches all-in-one super app

Published

21 hours ago

April 23, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY STAFF REPORTER

Leading fintech platform EcoCash has launched an all-in-one “super app” integrating payments, chat and lifestyle services into a single platform, in a push to deepen digital financial inclusion.

Developed by Sasai Fintech, a unit of Cassava Technologies, the app signals EcoCash’s shift towards a fully integrated digital and social ecosystem that goes beyond traditional payments.

In a statement, EcoCash said the platform responds to growing demand for seamless, mobile-first solutions that combine communication and transactions.

“With mobile devices now central to how people live, work and transact, we have reimagined the EcoCash app to deliver a secure, convenient and integrated digital experience,” the company said.

A key feature is social payments, allowing users to send and receive money within chat conversations without switching apps. The platform also includes automated bill-splitting, enabling users to divide shared costs in real time.

The app integrates merchant payments, bill settlements, and airtime and data purchases into a single interface, aiming to reduce transaction time and data costs.

EcoCash said the platform also supports content monetisation, allowing users to create and earn income directly, targeting Zimbabwe’s growing community of digital creators and small businesses.

The company said the super app forms part of a broader innovation pipeline that will include stablecoin-based remittances and other digital financial services, supported by investments in artificial intelligence.

Sasai Fintech recently partnered with Circle, an internet financial platform company, to advance stablecoin adoption in Africa.

National

Zimbabwe approves US$92 million Victoria Falls infrastructure deal

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY WANDILE TSHUMA

The government has greenlit a major public-private partnership (PPP) to develop critical bulk infrastructure within the Masuwe Special Economic Zone (MSEZ), a move aimed at transforming Victoria Falls into a premier international hub for finance and tourism.

The project, approved during the Tuesday cabinet meeting, establishes a commercial joint venture (CJV) between the state-owned Mosi Oa Tunya Development Company (MTDC) and the JR Goddard (JRG) Consortium.

According to the government briefing, the MSEZ is a “flagship national development project” established to “transform Victoria Falls into a diversified, high-value hub integrating tourism, financial services and sustainable real estate”.

Under the terms of the agreement, the JRG Consortium—which includes JR Goddard Pvt Ltd, Sesani Pvt Ltd, Stewart Scott Zimbabwe Pvt Ltd, and GGF Africa Pvt Ltd—will provide funding of US25.6 million.

This arrangement results in a shareholding structure of 39% for MTDC and 61% for the JR Goddard Consortium.

The infrastructure roadmap for the 1 200-hectare site is extensive. Planned works include the surfacing of 8 km of internal roads, the upgrading of 9 km of existing gravel roads, and the construction of a 13 km water pipeline designed to serve both the economic zone and neighbouring communities.

Additional developments will feature a package water treatment plant, a sewerage reticulation system, a power sub-station, and effluent re-use storage ponds.

Cabinet said the project was subjected to a “rigorous evaluation” in compliance with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) Act.

Officials believe the partnership will “catalyse high-value investment” and provide a “sustainable fiscal contribution to gross domestic product (GDP)” while creating downstream jobs.

The government said the project is expected to “catapult the transformation of Victoria Falls into a modern and vibrant economic development city, fulfilling the attainment of Vision 2030”.

The joint venture includes a 25-year structured profit recoup period and will be overseen by a board chaired by the MTDC to ensure alignment with the country’s National Development Strategy 2.

Located within the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA-TfCA), the Masuwedevelopment is seen as a strategic pivot for Zimbabwe to diversify its tourism-dependent economy into a more robust financial services and real estate centre.

National

Zambia, Zimbabwe to ban heavy trucks from Victoria Falls Bridge

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2026

VicFallsLive

BY DUMANI MOYO

Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has announced that Zambia and Zimbabwe will restrict heavy trucks and trains from using the century-old Victoria Falls Bridge.

Speaking at an engineering conference in Livingstone, he said the two countries will instead build a new bridge and railway crossing to handle modern freight demands.

Hichilema made it clear that the 121-year-old structure can no longer safely or efficiently carry today’s heavy-duty traffic.

Engineers designed the bridge in the early 1900s for much lighter loads, not for fully laden 60-tonne mining trucks or long freight trains that now dominate regional trade routes.

Engineers completed the Victoria Falls Bridge in 1905 as a narrow arch crossing linking road, rail and pedestrian traffic.

While it remains an iconic piece of infrastructure, its design limits its ability to support modern logistics.

Authorities have already imposed restrictions over the years.

Trains often move at very low speeds, while trucks have faced weight limits that forced heavier vehicles to reroute through other crossings.

Although rehabilitation work in 2006 extended the bridge’s lifespan, it did not solve the fundamental structural limitations.

Experts now agree that upgrading the bridge to meet current freight standards would cost nearly as much as building a new one.

WHY A NEW CROSSING MAKES ECONOMIC SENSE

Officials from both countries now favour constructing a new dual-purpose rail and road bridge instead of attempting further upgrades.

A purpose-built crossing would accommodate higher traffic volumes and modern freight loads without compromising safety.

A new structure would also eliminate a major bottleneck along the North-South Corridor, which links the copper belts of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to southern markets such as South Africa.

By separating heavy commercial traffic from tourism and local travel, the new bridge would allow the Victoria Falls Bridge to serve lighter vehicles, pedestrians and tourists, preserving its heritage value.

REGIONAL TRADE AND RAIL INTEGRATION BOOST

The proposed crossing would complement major regional projects, including the Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone Railway.

A dual-track rail bridge would strengthen links between Zambia and Zimbabwe while supporting long-term plans to expand rail connectivity across Southern Africa.

It would also mirror the successful model of the Kazungula Bridge, which has significantly increased traffic flow since opening in 2021.

FINANCING AND NEXT STEPS

Despite strong political backing, key questions remain around funding, construction timelines and project ownership.

Zimbabwe’s debt constraints could complicate financing, although improved economic reforms may unlock support from international lenders.

If both governments secure funding and move quickly, the new bridge could become one of the most important infrastructure developments in the Southern African Development Community in recent years.

This could transform trade flows and ease congestion along a critical regional corridor.

SOURCE: THE SOUTH AFRICAN