Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Engagement drive fosters partnerships – herald

Debra Matabvu

Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE will keep pursuing its engagement and re-engagement policy to strengthen economic, cultural and bilateral ties with countries across the globe, President Mnangagwa has said.

Posting on his microblogging platform, X, following separate credential presentation ceremonies for the incoming Nigerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Phillip Kuroghobogha Ikurusi; the Swiss Ambassador-designate, Mrs Christine Schraner Burgener; and the Dominican Republic’s incoming Ambassador, Ms Erika Alvarez Rodriguez, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe remained committed to strengthening relations with the international community and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.

“Today at State House in Harare, I received Letters of Credence from three newly-appointed Ambassadors to the Republic of Zimbabwe,” President Mnangagwa said.

“As we advance our engagement and re-engagement policy, Zimbabwe remains committed to being a ‘friend to all and an enemy to none,’ opening our doors wide for economic, cultural, and bilateral cooperation.

“I am pleased to formally welcome to Zimbabwe: H.E. Phillip Kuroghobogha Ikurusi, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who pledged to prioritise and strengthen our long-standing, historic African diplomatic and trade relations.

“H.E. Mrs Christine Schraner Burgener, Ambassador of the Swiss Confederation (Switzerland), as we look forward to deepening our strategic partnerships in development, innovation, and commerce.

“H.E. Ms Erika Alvarez Rodriguez, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, marking an exciting chapter of expanded cooperation, trade, and economic diplomacy between our nations.

“We look forward to highly productive tenures for all three envoys as we build mutually beneficial partnerships.”

Speaking after meeting President Mnangagwa, the incoming Nigerian Ambassador to Zimbabwe said his main priorities during his tenure will include strengthening bilateral ties between the two countries.

“Nigeria and Zimbabwe enjoy warm and long-standing relations, founded on shared historical experiences, mutual respect, and strong people-to-people connections,” Ambassador Ikurusi said.

“As Ambassador, my priority will be to further strengthen these relations and identify new areas of cooperation that will deliver tangible benefits for both our people.

“I look forward to working closely with the Government of Zimbabwe, the diplomatic community, the private sector, civil society, and most importantly the people of Zimbabwe, to deepen our bilateral cooperation.”

He said there is significant potential for greater collaboration in areas such as trade and investment, agriculture, education, tourism, culture, youth development, security and technology, among other sectors.

Swiss Ambassador Mrs Burgener said she will work on ensuring more companies from her country invest in Zimbabwe.

“Already we have an excellent relationship, a really fond friendship, and we would like to continue this cooperation in partnership with openness,” she said.

“We will continue on all the issues we are already working on together, and I will see where we can enhance even on those issues. We have quite a lot of Swiss companies already existing here in Zimbabwe and clearly I would invite more enterprises from Switzerland.

“I also think the double tax agreement, which we concluded, will be a very important tool to attract more economic relations between the two countries.”

The incoming Dominican Republic Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ms Erika Alvarez Rodriguez, said during her tenure she will focus on increasing bilateral relations between the two countries.

“We are looking at specific areas such as tourism, mining, women’s empowerment, and agriculture. As you know, the Dominican Republic is a leader in the Caribbean and the tourist sector.

“We received 11.6 million tourists last year, and we can offer cooperation to Zimbabwe in the tourist sector, and also learn from you about your experience in wildlife and conservation.”

Later on, President Mnangagwa met outgoing Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Adler Aristilde, who bade farewell to him after a three-year tour of duty.

The two reflected on the two countries’ bilateral relations.

Briefing journalists soon after their meeting, Ambassador Aristilde said their discussion centred on several issues, including the boat ferry disaster that claimed scores of people’s lives in Kariba.

They also discussed Zimbabwe’s election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and the country’s economic trajectory, which he said was encouraging.

“I just had a very warm and positive farewell conversation with His Excellency the President and I started by conveying condolences from me and from Canada to the Zimbabwean people following the tragic boat accident that happened earlier this week on Lake Kariba and we are encouraged by the Government’s efforts to address maritime safety and water safety issues in Zimbabwe once and for all,” said Ambassador Aristilde.

He said Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory was impressive.

“We mentioned the progress in the Zimbabwean economy, which has been growing at a rate of 6 percent last year, projected at 5 percent this year. We mentioned the macroeconomic reforms that are taking place, the debt and arrears clearance process that is evolving and the recent election of Zimbabwe for a non-permanent seat at the UN Security Council and expressed Canada’s readiness and willingness to collaborate with Zimbabwe to contribute to global governance and global peace,” Ambassador Aristilde said.

He said he was leaving Zimbabwe at a time when the two countries’ relations were good, given that there was collaboration in many areas, including sports where the two countries played cricket and rugby.

“We saw Canada’s cricket team being invited by Zimbabwe Cricket last year to play a tournament. Zimbabwe’s rugby team was in Canada last month, playing in a rugby competition. We have more Zimbabwean students going to Canada to study. We have Canadian graduates coming here for internships and strengthening Canada-Zimbabwe cooperation. Canadian businesses are coming here. We had an important business conference in 2024,” Ambassador Aristilde said.

Zimbabwe and Canada enjoy warm bilateral relations after setting up diplomatic ties in 1980 when Harare attained independence.

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Source: Kariba disaster: Govt reassures community as toll hits 46 – herald

Walter Nyamukondiwa in KARIBA

GRIEF hung heavily over Kariba yesterday as families mourned loved ones lost in the Lake Kariba ferry disaster, while the Government moved to reassure affected communities that support would be provided to help them rebuild their lives and livelihoods.

With the death toll now at 46, the Government pledged to restore critical transport links, assist families and traders who lost property, and ensure that communities dependent on lake transport can continue with their daily economic activities.

Speaking at a memorial service on behalf of President Mnangagwa and the First Family, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the Government would spare no effort in supporting affected families, some of whom lost as many as 11 relatives in the tragedy.

“The President has said that in line with the mantra of leaving no one and no place behind, another boat will be secured to ensure that business continues as usual and communities retain their livelihoods,” said Minister Garwe.

He said President Mnangagwa had directed Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona to mobilise resources for the rehabilitation and upgrading of the Karoi-Binga Road to improve access to Chalala, Mola, Siakobvu and surrounding areas that rely heavily on the lake for transport.

“The President said RIDA, the Ministry of Transport and his Government would work to ensure that the road network to Chalala and water transportation were fixed,” Minister Garwe said.

Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the minister said, were underway, with a comprehensive report expected to be presented to Cabinet on Tuesday.

Minister Garwe said the Government remained committed to standing with the Kariba community throughout the recovery process.

As chairperson of the Civil Protection Unit, he said search and retrieval operations would continue until every person who had been on the vessel was accounted for and their bodies retrieved for a decent burial.

Minister Garwe said the Government would also assist vendors and business operators who lost goods and sources of income in the tragedy, which has since been declared a State of Disaster.

“It is not only the families of the bereaved who lost relatives, but the nation,” he said, adding that Government would help ease the burden borne by affected families.

He commended members of the Zimbabwe National Army Boat Squadron, the Zimbabwe Republic Police Sub-Aqua Unit, freelance divers, business operators and the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks) for their dedication during the search and rescue operation.

One of the divers involved in the recovery mission, Mr Wonder Mujokeri, said luggage trapped inside the vessel was making it difficult to access some compartments and appealed for assistance to turn the boat upright.

“We have worked well today (yesterday) with the teams from the ZNA Boat Squadron and ZRP Sub-Aqua Unit, resulting in the recovery of two male bodies in one of the compartments,” said Mr Mujokeri.

“Work will continue tomorrow morning (today) again, where we expect to cover the remaining 20 percent of the boat.

“We have so far covered about 80 percent.”

Experts involved in the search said additional bodies may surface as time progresses, necessitating continued aerial and surface searches to facilitate recovery.

Traditional leaders, including Chiefs Msampakaruma, Nyamhunga and Chief Ngezi, who chairs the Mashonaland West Chiefs’ Council, called for traditional rites to be conducted, saying the spiritual dimension of the tragedy should not be overlooked.

Local Government Services director Mrs Cecilia Chitiyo said arrangements had been put in place to allow families to collect the bodies of their loved ones for burial, with some already indicating readiness to take them to their rural homes.

Minister Garwe said a full-scale investigation would be conducted into the circumstances surrounding the disaster, which wiped out entire families in some instances.

Survivors have recounted heartbreaking stories of households losing multiple family members, with some families reportedly losing as many as 11 relatives in the tragedy.

For Kariba, the pain remains raw. Yet amid the sorrow, Government says efforts are now focused on ensuring that affected families receive support, livelihoods are restored and lessons are drawn from one of the country’s worst boating disasters in recent years.

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Source: Tickets for 2m traffic offenders next week – herald

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

MORE than two million road traffic violations have been recorded in Harare by newly-installed traffic cameras, with offenders likely to start receiving their tickets from next week as the Government moves to bring sanity to the country’s roads, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage Minister Kazembe Kazembe has said.

The cameras, a key component of the Electronic Traffic Management System, have been installed at 20 strategic intersections along major roads in the capital.

They detect speeding, failure to obey road signs, use of mobile phones while driving, and travelling without fastened seatbelts, among other breaches of traffic regulations.

The Government intends to install over 300 high-tech cameras in Harare before expanding the programme to other cities across the country.

The cameras are part of Phase One of the national Smart Traffic Management and Surveillance Programme being implemented by the Ministry of Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage, with TelOne serving as the technical partner.

Minister Kazembe and Police Deputy Commissioner General Lorain Chipato yesterday led a delegation of senior police officers and Government officials on a tour of all 20 traffic surveillance sites and the Command and Control Centre at CID Headquarters.

In an interview after the tour, Minister Kazembe expressed satisfaction with the infrastructure, declaring Phase One now 99 percent complete.

“We have toured all the sites that are supposed to be done in Phase One, and Phase One consists of 20 sites. I am happy that all the 20 sites are now ready,” said Minister Kazembe. “I am happy with the infrastructure, and indeed, they have done a splendid job.”

The Minister said the Command Centre was fully operational, with all screens up and violations being detected in real time.

“Earlier on, we were talking of only 1 million incidents. And now they have recorded about 2.3 million violations already in the past month or so. Whilst those people have not been notified as yet, as you know, a crime is a crime, an offence is an offence, so the law will catch up with them. They will still have to pay those fines,” he said.

Minister Kazembe said the system was comprehensive, allowing for filtering and generation of various reports by site, by violation and by vehicles.

The Minister said that not all detections automatically translate into offences, as a validation process is conducted at the Command Centre before tickets are issued.

“In the control room, there are officers who validate the detections. They go to the videos and see what you have done. They validate to say, is this a crime? Is this an offence? Was there a police officer? Was the traffic light working? So there is that validation. Once it’s validated, then it becomes an offence. Before validation, it’s just a detection,” he said.

Minister Kazembe added that the system maintains an unalterable audit trail, recording the identity of every officer who logs in and validates violations, ensuring accountability and transparency.

“All the violations are in the database and are recorded, and now they are busy validating them. So any time from now, maybe starting from next week or the week after, notifications will be coming to those offenders to say, go and pay,” he said.

He noted that offenders who wish to contest the charges could opt to go to court, with video evidence available to support prosecution.

Minister Kazembe praised the quality of the footage, noting that the cameras capture images with remarkable clarity.

“The quality of the picture is amazing. You can actually read somebody’s newspaper that is in his car from those cameras. You can even read the message on the phone when someone is driving. So that is the picture quality,” he said.

The system detects a wide range of violations, including driving while using a mobile phone, crossing intersection lines, running red robots, and parking in restricted areas.

Beyond traffic enforcement, the cameras will also play a crucial role in combating crime, particularly against motorists targeted by criminals at traffic-controlled intersections.

Minister Kazembe said officers at the Command Centre would be able to detect criminal activity and dispatch reaction teams to intercept offenders in real time.

Minister Kazembe confirmed that Phase Two would follow soon, with additional features being considered to further enhance the system’s capabilities.

“We should be able to see sanity on our roads,” he said. “We will soon move to other towns and cities with this traffic management system.”

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Source: Ramaphosa extends Kariba condolences – herald

Thupeyo Muleya

Beitbridge Bureau

South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa has extended his deep condolences to the people of Zimbabwe following a ferry tragedy on Lake Kariba that claimed 46 lives on Tuesday.

In a statement on Thursday, the Presidency said President Ramaphosa stands in solidarity with Zimbabwe during this difficult time.

“On behalf of the Government and people of South Africa, President Cyril Ramaphosa extends his deep condolences to the Government and people of Zimbabwe following the extensive loss of life in a tragedy on Lake Kariba, Zimbabwe,” reads part of the statement.

President Ramaphosa offered sympathies to the families of the 46 people who died when the ferry capsized, and said his thoughts are also with survivors and families who are still awaiting updates from ongoing search and rescue operations.

“As South Africans, we stand in solidarity today with the nation of Zimbabwe as we mourn this extensive loss of life,” said President Ramaphosa.

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Source: Let’s live in harmony: VP Chiwenga – herald

Mukudzei Chingwere in HWEDZA

VICE President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has encouraged people to embrace love, unity and harmony, saying these values are essential for strong families, peaceful communities and a lasting legacy.

He was speaking yesterday at a memorial service for his late mother, Gogo Veronica Chivaraidze Chiwenga, held at his rural home in Hwedza.

He used the occasion to honour his mother’s life and the values she instilled in her family, while highlighting the importance of family and unity in society.

Among those who attended the memorial service were Mashonaland East Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Advocate Itayi Ndudzo, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, as well as senior Government and ZANU PF officials.

VP Chiwenga said the family was more than a place of belonging, describing it as the first school where children learn morals, respect, faith and responsibility.

“People should love one another. My mother was a loving person who loved everyone and that is how we were brought up,” said VP Chiwenga.

“Let’s live in love and harmony, and let us all live a good legacy. Love is what holds families together.

“Love helps societies remain peaceful and united even when faced with differences.

“Those roots shape not only our identity, but how we respond to life’s challenges. Unity is a social responsibility, built through how we treat one another.”

VP Chiwenga said his late mother’s teachings on love, discipline and respect had shaped the family and continued to produce positive results.

“My mother’s teachings brought us up well. For instance, all my sisters were married honourably and went on to build respectable families.

“This outcome was not by chance, but a clear reflection of the values she instilled in us – of love, discipline and respect – showing that the foundation she laid through her guidance continues to bear good results even today,” said VP Chiwenga.

VP Chiwenga described his late mother as a woman whose kindness extended beyond her relatives to everyone she encountered.

He also thanked his uncles and other family members for organising the memorial service, saying it demonstrated the love, unity and support within the family.

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