BY NOTHANDO DUBE

Lawmakers in Zimbabwe are debating a comprehensive Climate Change Management Bill that supporters say will finally ensure rural communities are no longer “mere spectators” in the multi-billion dollar carbon credit industry.

The Bill, which moved into its second reading, seeks to regulate carbon trading and protect the country’s natural resources from foreign exploitation.

Mutsa Murombedzi delivered a passionate plea for the legislation, arguing that it is a matter of “justice, survival and the dignity of our people”. “Climate change is not a distant stone,” Murombedzi told the House. “It is the flood that we see in Chimanimani, which sweeps away our schools… the heatwave that scotches our communities in Hwange, one silent drought that empties our granaries”.

A major point of contention and hope is the proposed 40% community share in carbon projects. Lawmakers argued that previous projects often left locals with nothing but “tsotso stoves or bicycles” while profits were “repatriated back to their countries, particularly those from the global north”.

Master Makope applauded the move to bring transparency to a sector where deals were often done “without the knowledge of the authorities”.

“By having this policy framework, I believe our people are going to benefit,” Makope said.

“The Minister has to make sure that the villagers, the communities, should also have easy access to registration of their own projects because they are the ones who own these forests”.

The debate also focused on the establishment of a National Climate Fund.

Susan Matsunga insisted on rigorous oversight, suggesting a biennial reporting cycle to Parliament to ensure progress is measurable. “This is about building a culture of transparency that ensures our climate goals are not just promises on paper but measurable achievements,” Matsunga stated.

Murombedzi added that “Climate finance must not vanish into corridors in Harare; it must flow to the ward level where resilience is built”.

BY VANESSA GONYE

Health experts have expressed growing concern over the emergence of illegal herbal creams and unregulated drug sales on the streets of Harare and throughout Zimbabwe.

A disturbing increase in the presence and sale of unregulated medicines is bedeviling the country, with worry rising over the dangerous outcomes associated with these products.

In recent years, the capital has witnessed a sharp rise in informal drug outlets commonly referred to as “backyard pharmacies”.

 These unlicensed operations are often run from residential homes, tuckshops, market stalls, or simply from blankets laid on busy pavements.

In recent years, the capital has witnessed a sharp rise in informal drug outlets commonly referred to as “backyard pharmacies”.

 These unlicensed operations are often run from residential homes, tuckshops, market stalls, or simply from blankets laid on busy pavements.

Surveys reveal that these backyard pharmacies operate without any quality control, cold chain storage, or professional oversight.

Some of the drugs may be counterfeit, expired, adulterated, or incorrectly labelled.

Itai Rusike, the executive director of the Community Working Group on Health (CWGH), expressed alarm over the proliferation of these vendors, noting the trend puts patients’ health and safety at serious risk.

“The challenge is and has always been the gap in communicating the dosage schedule and indication for treatment,” Rusike said.

“There is no accreditation or regulation of the practitioners, their practice, nor their premises, as is done for registered pharmacists trained in conventional medicine”.

Rusike also highlighted a dangerous lack of scientific data: “There is generally a lack of clinical trials, scientific data and evidence to support the efficacy of street medicines, despite some claims from treated individuals”.

He called for widespread health and treatment literacy programmes to stop citizens from “taking wild gambles” with their health.

Rusike urged that: “the regulatory authorities should also be seen to effectively apply the laws regulating the sale of medicines in the country and protecting the health and safety of the general public without fear or favour”.

Johannes Marisa, president of the Medical and Dental Private Practitioners of Zimbabwe, echoed these concerns, stating that selling drugs from unregulated places is a major threat to public health.

“When we are talking of public health, we become very worried when we see drugs being sold everywhere,” Marisa said.

He warned that counterfeit drugs can create a “false belief that you are recovering from something, yet you are taking a counterfeit drug, which does not work”.

He added that such practices prolong infections and increase both morbidity and mortality.

The trend is largely driven by economic hardships that have made formal healthcare unaffordable for many, alongside high unemployment that has pushed individuals into pharmaceuticals as a lucrative vending commodity.

The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) has repeatedly warned that these unregistered products pose significant risks, including kidney and liver damage, high blood pressure, and increased cancer risk.

In response, the government has introduced stiffer penalties, with offenders now facing up to 20 years in prison.

SOURCE: THE STANDARD

BY WANDILE TSHUMA 

The Zimbabwe Republic Police has reported a worrying rise in road fatalities during the 2026 Easter holiday, despite a decline in the total number of accidents.

According to the police, 30 people were killed in road traffic accidents during the holiday period, up from 24 deaths recorded in 2025. However, the total number of accidents dropped from 384 in 2025 to 337 in 2026, while injuries also decreased significantly from 178 to 104. 

Police said 22 of the recorded accidents were fatal, compared to 21 during the same period last year. 

Pedestrians most affected

Pedestrians accounted for the majority of fatalities, making up 63% of the deaths (19 people). Passengers were the second most affected group with seven deaths (23%), followed by drivers with three (10%), while one rider (3%) was killed. 

Speeding, overtaking blamed

Authorities identified speeding as the leading cause of accidents during the period, with many drivers losing control of their vehicles. Unsafe overtaking was also cited as a major contributor to head-on collisions. 

Deadly incidents recorded

One of the most tragic incidents occurred on 2 April 2026, when six family members died after a head-on collision between a Toyota Corolla and a truck along the Harare–Masvingo Road. 

In another traffic accident , seven people were killed and four injured on 3 April 2026 at the 51km peg along the Bulawayo–Beitbridge Road. A truck rammed into three vehicles — a Nissan March, Toyota Probox and Toyota Hiace — before striking pedestrians who had gathered at the scene. 

Police warning

The police have urged motorists to exercise caution, obey traffic laws and avoid speeding, especially during peak travel periods. Drivers involved in accidents are also being reminded to stop, render assistance and report incidents.