Zimbabwe Intensifies Fight Against African Armyworm with Surveillance Traps
John Cassim In a concerted effort to combat the most severe African armyworm outbreak in 20 years, Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, has deployed 214 surveillance traps nationwide. Minister Dr. Anxious Masuka announced this initiative during a Post Cabinet Media Briefing in Harare this Tuesday. While the primary […]
Zimbabwe Applauds Gains from The Resilience Building Fund: Embraces Second Phase
John Cassim Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, has applauded the gains realised from the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF). Professor Obert Jiri made these remarks during the official launch of the second phase of the ZRBF, supported by a US$17.24 million pooled fund […]
FAO and Forestry Commission Launch Initiative to Preserve Miombo Forests
John Cassim The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations has launched a major new initiative to protect the Miombo woodlands in Zimbabwe, a crucial ecosystem that supports the livelihoods of millions of rural residents. The $1.7 million project, funded by the Italian government, will be implemented in Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In Zimbabwe, FAO will […]
Zimbabwe Launches National Action Plan Phase Two to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)
John Cassim The Zimbabwean government launched its second National Action Plan for Antimicrobial Resistance (NAP 2.0) 2024–2028 on Thursday. This launch comes amid reports that drug resistance complications caused 15,800 deaths in Zimbabwe in 2019. Globally, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) currently causes an estimated 700,000 deaths annually, exceeding deaths from cancer and many other non-communicable diseases. […]
The Future of Fisheries in Zimbabwe: Examining Ambitious Targets
John Cassim Zimbabweans are often apathetic, fearful, and critical, a mindset stemming from past disappointments with heavily promoted but ultimately failed government programs. The Jatropha farming initiative, launched in 2006, serves as a prime example. The multimillion-dollar processing plant in Mt Hampden, once touted as the first of its kind in Africa, became a white […]
Zimbabwean Aquaculture Fish: A Potentially Safer Protein Source
John Cassim Experts have revealed that Zimbabwean fish produced through aquaculture could be a safer source of protein, as no fish-to-human disease transmission has been recorded. This positive finding comes amid global concerns about the alarming rise of zoonotic diseases, contributing to Neglected Tropical Diseases and Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in humans. While wild fish can […]
The Hosting of COP-15 Does Not Make Zimbabwe Immune to Environmental Challenges
By John Cassim The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) Director of Environmental Management Services, Steady Kangata, has cautioned critics that hosting the Ramsar COP 15 on Wetlands does not make Zimbabwe a saint. Kangata was responding to the wide criticism against EMA following the water pollution of Lake Chivero in Harare that led to the death […]
Professor Edson Gandiwa Appointed New ZimParks Boss
John Cassim Professor Edson Gandiwa, a renowned wildlife ecologist and professor at Chinhoyi University of Technology, has been appointed as the new Director General of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks). He succeeds Dr. Fulton Mangwanya, who recently assumed the position of Director General of the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO). This appointment is […]
Cyanide and Sodium Hydroxide Poisoning Caused Fish and Livestock Deaths in Shashe River: EMA
By John Cassim The Environmental Management Agency (EMA) has revealed that cyanide and sodium hydroxide poisoning caused fish and livestock deaths following a spillage from Cambria 4 Mine in Masvingo a fortnight ago. “The Agency collected water samples from the river for analysis at the Environmental Management laboratory, which revealed an elevated pH level, likely […]
Zimbabwe’s Wildlife Remains a Major Tourist Draw
By John Cassim Harare, Zimbabwe – As Zimbabwe joins the global community in celebrating September as World Tourism Month, the wildlife sector is poised to attract significant numbers of both local and international tourists. This is especially noteworthy given the sector’s strong performance during the first half of the year. The Zimbabwean government, through the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), has […]