THE HEADLINES
Small-Scale and Artisanal Miners Urged to Prioritize Personal Protective Equipment to Mitigate Health Hazards
King Mswati III advocates for cooperation among African countries to improve economies and trade at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
Zimbabwe’s Vice President Calls for Private Sector-Led Economic Growth Toward Vision 2030
Health Experts Call for Swift Action to Prevent Cholera Outbreak in Harare Amidst 12 Confirmed Cases Linked to Contaminated Well
Police Authorities in Nyamandlovu, Lupane Search for Suspect in Connection with Murder of 20-Year-Old Woman.
Domestic workers vanish with US$17 000
Police investigate series of thefts targeting Midlands State University students in Zvishavane
Papa Wemba’s house becomes a rumba museum
Vietnam arrests 65 for drug smuggling in toothpaste tubes
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NEWS IN DETAIL
King Mswati III advocates for cooperation among African countries to improve economies and trade at Zimbabwe International Trade Fair
King Mswati III of Eswatini has emphasized the need for African countries to cooperate in improving their economies to address poverty and unemployment.
In his speech at the 63rd Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair King Mswati III said the annual trade fair, which began in 1959, serves as a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services and to facilitate trade in the region.
In recent years, African countries have been working to increase intra-African trade, which has historically been low compared to trade with other regions such as Europe, Asia, and the Americas. According to the African Development Bank, intra-African trade accounts for only 16% of the continent’s total trade, compared to 68% for Europe, 59% for Asia, and 31% for the Americas.
However, there have been efforts to boost trade between African countries, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was launched in January 2021.
The AfCFTA aims to create a single market for goods and services across the continent, with the potential to boost intra-African trade by 52% by 2022.
Small-Scale and Artisanal Miners Urged to Prioritize Personal Protective Equipment to Mitigate Health Hazards
Small-scale and artisanal miners in the Great Dyke region have been advised to prioritize their safety and wellbeing by wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when carrying out mining activities. The call comes as a response to the growing concerns over the hazardous working conditions that miners face in the area.
In an interview on the Green Mining program on YAFM, Safety, Health, and Environmental Officer Queen Sibanda emphasized the need for miners to wear PPE to prevent exposure to harmful conditions that could impact their health. Sibanda noted that noise pollution, in particular, can have serious health and environmental implications, which makes it vital for miners to protect themselves while on the job.
Mining is known to produce significant amounts of noise pollution, which can result in hearing loss, tinnitus, and other health issues.
Zimbabwe’s Vice President Calls for Private Sector-Led Economic Growth Toward Vision 2030
Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has highlighted the government’s commitment to promoting private sector economic transformation in an open and competitive market through its National Development Strategy 1.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, he emphasized the government’s role in creating an environment that is conducive to economic development.
He said the private sector should take a leading role in driving economic growth towards the achievement of the country’s vision 2030.
This vision outlines ambitious economic targets, such as becoming an upper-middle-income country with a diversified and modernized economy.
To achieve these goals, the government has been implementing policies and programs aimed at attracting investment and promoting entrepreneurship.
The National Development Strategy 1 prioritizes areas such as agriculture, mining, tourism, and infrastructure development, among others, to drive economic growth and create employment opportunities.
Health Experts Call for Swift Action to Prevent Cholera Outbreak in Harare Amidst 12 Confirmed Cases Linked to Contaminated Well
Health experts are urging the government and local authorities to take action to prevent a potential cholera outbreak. This call comes after 12 cases of cholera were reported in the city, with all cases coming from Budiriro 1 and linked to the use of a single contaminated well, which has now been closed.
Former Health Minister Henry Madzorera emphasized the urgent need for access to clean and safe water, stating that cholera is a clear indication of inadequate access to clean water.
Dr. Michael Vere, the Epidemiology and Disease Control Officer for the City of Harare, confirmed the recorded cases and stressed the importance of swift action to prevent the spread of the disease.
Cholera is a highly infectious and potentially life-threatening disease caused by ingesting water or food contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
The disease can spread rapidly in areas with poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.
Police Authorities in Nyamandlovu, Lupane Search for Suspect in Connection with Murder of 20-Year-Old Woman.
Police authorities in Nyamandlovu, Lupane are urgently seeking the public’s assistance in locating Mtokozisi Dube, a suspect wanted in connection with a murder case. The incident took place on the 26th of April 2023 at Plot 1, Mimosa Farm, Redbank.
According to police reports, the suspect is believed to have fatally attacked his 20-year-old wife, Prisca Tshuma, with an unknown object following a domestic dispute. The victim’s lifeless body was discovered dumped near a railway line close to the couple’s residence on the 27th of April 2023.
Law enforcement officials are requesting anyone with information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect to report to the nearest police station as soon as possible.
The police are conducting an intensive investigation into the matter and urge the public to come forward with any relevant information that could aid in the swift resolution of this case.
Police investigate series of thefts targeting Midlands State University students in Zvishavane
In Zvishavane, the police have launched an investigation into a recent case of theft targeting Midlands State University students. Over the past few weeks, several students have fallen victim to theft, losing valuable gadgets such as laptops and cell phones.
The most recent incident happened on April 29th in Eastlea Zvishavane, where a female student had her cell phone and laptop stolen from the same room where she left them charging.
The police are urging anyone with information regarding the theft or any suspicious activity in the area to come forward and report to the nearest police station.
These incidents are a cause for concern, especially for students who rely heavily on electronic devices for their studies.
The police are advising the public to take precautionary measures such as locking doors and windows and not leaving valuable items in plain sight.
Investigations are ongoing, and the police are committed to bringing the culprits to justice and ensuring that the safety and security of the community are upheld.
Domestic workers vanish with US$17 000
TWO domestic workers at a farm in Headlands allegedly stole a cash stash of US$17 090 from their employer and vanished from their workstation.
The incident allegedly happened in January 2023 at Mutunhu Farm in Headlands.
The long arm of law finally caught up with Meeting Phiri, who was employed as a farm gardener.
Police are hunting for Martha Kasasa, an accomplice in the matter, who is now a fugitive from justice.
Phiri, who was a self-actor, did not waste the court’s time when he appeared before Rusape magistrate, Ms Annie Ndiraya, and pleaded guilty.
Ms Ndiraya slapped him with a six-year jail term.
She set aside 18 months on condition of good behaviour.
Another 24 months were further suspended on condition that he restitutes Mr John Winskill his money.
Prosecutor, Mr Marlon Makamba told the court that Phiri worked in cahoots with Kasasa and stole the money during Mr Winskill’s absence.
“Phiri was employed by the complainant as a gardener, and on January 30, 2023 at around 6am, the complainant put US$17 090 in a plastic bag and placed it under his vehicle seat. He visited the fields, leaving the vehicle keys in a drawer in the lounge.
“The accused person and Kasasa, who was employed as a maid, reported for work as usual. Martha picked the keys from the drawer and unlocked the car. The two searched the vehicle and found the US$17 090 stashed under the vehicle seat.
“They wrapped the money with a java cloth and went away. They shared the money in Harare. Phiri took US$10 500 while Kasasa took the remainder,” said Mr Makamba.
Mr Winskill returned from the fields around 11am and found the accused persons gone.
After checking and failing to locate them, the complainant became suspicious and went to check for his money in the vehicle.
He discovered that the money had been stolen.
He then made a report to the police, leading to Phiri’s arrest. — ManicaPost
Papa Wemba’s house becomes a rumba museum.
The Kinshasa home of late Congolese music icon Papa Wemba has been officially handed over to the Institute of National Museums of Congo, seven years after his death.
The house is set to become the house of Congolese rumba, and a recording studio will be installed there. Congolese rumba gained protected status when it was added to UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity two years ago.
Papa Wemba was one of the Congolese singers who took Africa’s most influential music genre to the world, and passed away on stage while performing in Ivory Coast in 2016. The DR Congo government has yet to fulfill its promise of putting up a statue in his memory.
Vietnam arrests 65 for drug smuggling in toothpaste tubes
Police in Vietnam have arrested 65 people for smuggling 50kg of drugs, some of which were hidden in toothpaste tubes. This follows the arrest last month of four Vietnam Airlines cabin crew members found with drugs in their carry-on bags after a flight from Paris.
The crew claimed they were hired to transport toothpaste, but didn’t know it contained ecstasy, ketamine and cocaine. The 65 suspects are being investigated for various charges, including buying, selling, transporting and storing narcotics.
Police suspect the same syndicate often uses Vietnamese nationals studying and living in France to bring drugs into the country.
