Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Govt gazettes Medical Services Act  -Newsday Zimbabwe

Government has gazetted amendments to the Medical Services Act that compel private health institutions to admit and stabilise patients with life-threatening emergencies for at least 48 hours, regardless of their ability to pay

Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent secretary, Nick Mangwana, said the amendment marked a significant milestone in protecting the constitutional right to emergency medical treatment.

“The amendment to the Medical Services Act introduces a binding emergency treatment obligation. Private health institutions must now admit any patient with a life-threatening emergency for at least 48 hours to stabilise them before transfer, even if the patient cannot afford care,” Mangwana said.

He added that the legislation also creates a framework for collaboration between public and private healthcare providers during emergencies.

“The minister may also request private facilities to provide specialist services for public emergency patients during public crises. Cost-recovery agreements can be made with the State or patients,” he said.

Mangwana noted that the law contains strict penalties for non-compliance to ensure that emergency patients are not denied treatment because of financial constraints.

“Heads of private institutions, or practitioners acting without authority, who refuse such emergency admission face fines of up to level 8 or imprisonment for up to one year. This provision effectively bars private facilities from turning away critical emergency cases based solely on inability to pay,” he said.

The amendments, which have now been gazetted, introduce a legally binding obligation on private healthcare facilities to provide emergency treatment before any transfer to another institution.

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Source: African Church leaders to converge in Harare for continental unity summit -Newsday Zimbabwe

More than 300 delegates from at least 36 African countries are expected to gather in Harare next week for a landmark joint summit hosted by the Council for Churches in Africa (CCA) and the Pan African religious leaders’ assembly, organisers have announced.

The six-day conference, scheduled for September 21 to 26 at the Harare International Conference Centre, will run under the theme “Our unity is in Christ, not in doctrines,” with a sub-theme urging the continent to “Rise up from dependency to self-sufficiency – Every country is built by its own people.”

The summit brings together church leaders, women’s fellowships, theological scholars, and lay representatives from across the continent to chart a new path for African Christianity.

“This is not merely a church gathering; it is a continental conversation on how faith communities can drive Africa’s transformation,” CCA leader Rocky Moyo said.

“We are moving beyond doctrinal debates to focus on unity in action—building schools, hospitals, universities, and enterprises that lift our people out of dependency.

“This Summit gathers apostolic, prophetic, and church leaders from across Africa to shift the narrative – from survival to dominion, from aid to productivity, from dependency to self-sufficiency.”

Moyo said Zimbabwe was selected as the host nation in recognition of its rich religious heritage and its strategic position as a hub for regional dialogue.

“The conference is expected to produce a binding action plan that will guide African churches in their social and economic engagement over the next decade.”

The programme opens on Monday with the arrival and accreditation of international delegates, followed by a welcome fellowship dinner.

Tuesday is dedicated to the CCA women’s fellowship and mother union.

Mid-week sessions will tackle church governance, cross-border partnerships, and practical models for transitioning from aid to enterprise.

A full day of country presentations under the sub-theme “every country is built by its own people” will showcase home-grown initiatives in agriculture, education, finance, mining, and infrastructure development.

Friday marks the formal assembly of the pan African religious leaders, where delegates will adopt resolutions on Afrophobia, xenophobia, and African solidarity, followed by strategic dialogue on the role of faith leaders in continental development.

The summit concludes with an ecumenical honorary awards ceremony and the issuance of a communique and declaration outlining collective commitments.

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Source: Harare commission new vehicle fleet, equipment to improve services – herald

Municipal Correspondent

THE City of Harare yesterday commissioned its newly acquired fleet of service vehicles and equipment.

Harare mayor Councillor Jacob Mafume said the local authority’s priority was to ensure the equipment was put to work to improve service delivery.

“It has to do the work. So, we will also take you to where it’s working. Not only are we buying, but it must be bought to do some work,” he said.

Speaking at the same event, Harare Metropolitan Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Dr Shingirai Mushamba said the newly acquired equipment would enhance service delivery in the capital.

“We are very pleased to see vehicles that are going to improve the quality-of-service delivery. We have ambulances that demonstrate the need for us as a city to pay attention to health service delivery,” he said.

“We need to complement each other’s efforts and make sure there is trafficability in the City of Harare. We want to address traffic congestion and ensure that within a reasonable time we are able to witness the free flow of traffic on our roads.”

Dr Mushamba also commended ongoing efforts to address Harare’s water challenges and revitalise the central business district.

He expressed optimism that another batch of service delivery equipment would be commissioned later this year as the city continues to strengthen its operational capacity.

The fleet comprises six ambulances, two of which are awaiting delivery, three UD flatbed trucks, two Toyota Hilux single-cab vehicles, a 15-seater bus, two skid steers, three backhoe loaders, two excavators and two graders.

The acquisition of the vehicles and equipment comes as the local authority seeks to improve service delivery in areas such as emergency medical services, road maintenance, traffic management and water infrastructure rehabilitation.

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Source: Zim, Moza move to ease border delays – herald

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE and Mozambique officials met yesterday in Beira at a Joint Border Committee meeting which sought to strengthen regional connectivity, improve corridor performance and ensure the movement of people and goods is seamless between the two countries.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Joy Makumbe, is leading the Zimbabwe delegation.

The meeting is being attended by various officials from various ministries and government departments, including foreign affairs, industry and commerce, immigration, customs and law enforcement.

Addressing the meeting, Eng Makumbe said the Beira Corridor in Mozambique was the lifeline of the two countries’ economies as it supported agriculture, mining, manufacturing, industry and the livelihoods of millions of citizens.

“It is my honour and privilege to address you at the opening of this important session of the Joint Border Committee (JBC), convened under the framework of the warm and longstanding bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Mozambique. Our gathering today is a clear demonstration of our shared commitment to strengthening regional connectivity, improving corridor performance, and ensuring that the movement of people and goods between our two nations is safe, predictable, and seamless.

“Our cooperation is not merely administrative; it is strategic. Zimbabwe and Mozambique are bound together by geography, by trade, and by a shared vision of an integrated, competitive, and prosperous region. The Beira Corridor is the lifeline of our economies. It supports agriculture, mining, manufacturing, industry, and the livelihoods of millions of our citizens,” she said.

She said in December 2025, the Ministers of Transport and Infrastructural Development; Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage; and the Minister of Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Manicaland Province visited Forbes Border Post to assess the causes of delays and recommended practical measures to decongest the border.

“Their findings highlighted several persistent challenges: congestion and delays that increase costs, disrupt supply chains, and reduce competitiveness; Infrastructure constraints that have not kept pace with rising traffic volumes; fragmented and inconsistent procedures that undermine predictability for operators; security and compliance risks, including illicit activities that threaten corridor integrity; and limited harmonisation of regulatory frameworks and operational practices between our two countries.

“These challenges are systemic. They cannot be resolved in isolation. They require coordinated, cross-border solutions — and this is precisely why the JBC mechanism is so important. It provides a structured platform for dialogue, joint planning, and problem solving, ensuring that corridor issues are addressed collectively rather than in silos,” Eng Makumbe said.

She said in March 2026, officials from both countries, with support from TradeMark Africa, met in Mutare to draft the Terms of Reference for the Joint Border Committee for the Forbes–Machipanda Border Post.

Eng Makumbe said the broader objective is to strengthen institutional coordination, streamline systems, and improve efficiency and safety at this strategic gateway along the Beira Corridor.

During the meeting, Eng Makumbe highlighted several priority areas requiring focused attention and these include improving corridor performance through harmonised procedures, predictable transit times, and efficient traffic management, and strengthening border operations, including coordinated inspections, integrated systems, and adoption of modern technologies.

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Source: Police warn motorists to tighten security – herald

Inspector Luckmore Chakanza

Arron Nyamayaro

Herald Reporter

POLICE in Harare have urged motorists to take extra precautions to protect their vehicles following a surge in car theft cases.

Harare provincial police spokesperson Inspector Luckmore Chakanza confirmed that three cases were under investigation within the last two weeks.

In one of the cases, Collen Mubvumbi (46) of Shawasha Flats, Mbare, had a narrow escape after a thief who stole his vehicle was eventually caught.

Police said Mubvumbi had left his Nissan NV200 idling while he went to buy groceries at a tuckshop near Nenyere Flats.

While he was still at the shop, he noticed that the vehicle was moving.

He ran back and found the vehicle being driven off towards Mupedzanhamo Market.

Mubvumbi raised an alarm and with the help of members of the public, pursued the car on foot. After travelling for about 300 metres, the vehicle reached a depression where the engine stalled, and the suspect was apprehended.

In a separate incident, Shumbanhete Chimbodza (37) of Dzivaresekwa parked his Nissan Caravan at the Dzivaresekwa 4 shops car park.

He locked the vehicle and went to his residence. Police said he returned at around 3:40am the following day to collect a parcel, drove into his yard and parked at the main gate, leaving the keys in the ignition while he went inside.

Moments later, Chimbodza heard his car being driven off at high speed.

He rushed outside and saw the vehicle heading towards Bulawayo Road, being driven by an unidentified person.

Meanwhile, in Chitungwiza, Munyaradzi Chiminya (28) of Unit L, Seke, parked his Honda Fit opposite Padare Sports Bar at Chikwanha Business Centre.

He locked the vehicle and went into the bar. After about an hour, a reveller approached him, allegedly claiming he was blocking other motorists. Chiminya went out to check, but discovered that his car had disappeared.

Police said when he checked his pockets, he also realised that the car keys were missing.

Insp Chakanza said the incidents show that some motorists continue to neglect basic security measures, particularly leaving keys in the ignition.

“Motorists are urged to properly secure their vehicles and avoid leaving car keys in the ignition. Some of these cases show that we have motorists who are not considering the security of their vehicles,” he said.

He also advised that car dealers and buyers should clear vehicle transactions through the police Vehicle Theft Squad before exchanging money.

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