Biogas Project Empowers Mbire Community Against Climate Change
Lawrence Mutasa, feeding his biogas digester with cow dung mixed with water at his homestead in Mbire: Credit: John Cassim John Cassim In Mbire, as the day ends, familiar scenes emerge, women at boreholes, men collecting tiny logs for firewood. However, at Mr. Lawrence Mutasa’s homestead in Ward 17, the rhythm is distinct. Upon arrival, […]
Zimbabwe’s Lake Harvest, Faces Potential Closure; Appeals for 15% Fish Tax Exemption
John Cassim Lake Harvest, one of Zimbabwe’s largest fish producers, is facing imminent closure if the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) garnishes its bank accounts due to unpaid taxes, ConserveZim has learned. While the exact amount owed remains unspecified, sources within Lake Harvest indicate that the imposition of a 15% Value Added Tax (VAT) has significantly […]
The Kombi Crash We Ignore: Zimbabwe’s Daily Toll of Cervical Cancer
John Cassim Imagine hearing that a minibus (kombi) full of women crashes every day, resulting in at least six fatalities. These are shocking statistics that would compel the Zimbabwean government to act. One might expect the Zimbabwe Republic Police to establish roadblocks, apprehend reckless drivers, and impound unroadworthy kombis to curb the carnage. The reality, […]
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 […]
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 […]