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 […]
Anti-Rhino Poaching Efforts Celebrated in Southern Africa: More Still Needs to Be Done
John Cassim The 78th meeting of the Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from 3-8 February 2025, will hear about the gains made in the regional fight against illegal trade and the killing of rhinos. Just two weeks […]
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 […]
Drought Threatens DRC Mining as Water Levels in Cahora Bassa Remain Low
John Cassim Low water levels at the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Plant (HCB) due to ongoing drought are raising concerns about continued power shortages in Mozambique, potentially impacting mining operations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Cahora Bassa, a major regional energy supplier, is struggling with low reservoir levels, significantly affecting electricity exports to countries […]
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 […]
USAid transforms community-based wildlife management
John Cassim A kombi donated to the Nyangambe community by a safari operator Shangani River Safaris. The operator is leasing a wildlife farm owned by 181 Nyangambe community members. Owing to sound management through trainings under the Resilience Anchors the community is now benefiting from a borehole, and a omnibus for safe commuting for the […]