Category: News Feeds

HARARE
–
Air
carrier
KLM
Royal
Dutch
Airlines
has
announced
plans
to
end
its
freight
operations
to
Harare,
beginning
this
April,
due
to
operational
challenges
associated
with
the
service.

This
emerged
in
a
notice
to
customers
by
Tiger
Freight’s
Managing
Director
Pim
de
Wit
who
was
quick
to
assure
customers
the
shipping
services
provider
was
exploring
measures
to
mitigate
the
looming
crisis.

“KLM’s
decision
to
reduce
their
African
freighter
operations
to
three
flights
weekly,
with
Harare
no
longer
included,
is
a
result
of
their
evolving
fleet
priorities
and
operational
efficiency
concerns,”
said
the
Tiger
Freight
boss.

Frequent
48-hour
delays,
cancellations,
and
rescheduling
have
impacted
Harare
flights,
according
to
Pim
de
Wit,
who
added
that
the
decision
to
cease
operations
by
KLM
Royal
Dutch
Airlines
“was
influenced
by
the
short
flight
leg,
lack
of
local
maintenance
facilities,
and
unstable
freight
volumes”.

“We
are
working
closely
with
Airflo
KE
to
ensure
alternative
routings,
where
capacity
remains
available
to
transport
your
goods,”
said
the
company.

These
include
collaborating
with
Ethiopian
Airlines
for
direct
connections
from
Harare
to
Addis
Ababa,
followed
by
freighter
flights
to
Europe.
FX
Logistics
has
secured
permits
for
cargo
handling
resources
in
Addis
Ababa.

“Middle
Eastern
Carriers:
Emirates
and
Qatar
Airlines
remain
viable
options
for
both
westbound
(Europe)
and
eastbound
(Asia)
freight,
although
please
note
that
westbound
rates
are
currently
higher
due
to
high
demand
from
e-commerce,”
said
the
company
manager,
who
added
that
options
were
available
to
route
Harare
cargo
via
Johannesburg,
although
this
may
result
in
additional
handling
times.

“We
remain
committed
to
providing
the
highest
level
of
service
during
this
transition
and
will
continue
to
work
on
identifying
the
most
efficient
and
reliable
alternatives.
Should
you
have
any
concerns
or
require
further
details,
please
do
not
hesitate
to
reach
out.

“Thank
you
for
your
understanding
and
continued
cooperation.
We
will
provide
further
updates
as
the
new,
solutions
are
put
in
place.”

According
to
a
statement
from
the
Zimbabwe
Republic
Police
(ZRP),
the
arrest
of
the
suspects
resulted
in
the
recovery
of
60
kilograms
of
copper
windings,
two
bolt
cutters,
a
shift
spanner,
two
kitchen
knives,
and
their
getaway
vehicle.
Police
said:

The
ZRP
confirms
the
arrest
of
Phillip
Chitawa
(43),
Steven
Nyakabau
(31),
Patson
Gurupira
(28),
Clayton
Nyakatonje
(24)
and
Marry
Ngono
(33)
for
vandalism
of
a
100
KW
ZETDC
transformer
at
Mazezuru
Secondary
School,
Mudzi,
Mutoko
on
23/01/25.

The
arrest
led
to
the
recovery
of
60
kilogrammes
of
copper
windings,
two
bolt
cutters,
a
shift
spanner,
two
kitchen
knives
and
the
suspects’
getaway
car,
a
Toyota
Chaser,
registration
number
ADD
1539.

The
suspects
are
also
linked
to
a
case
of
vandalism
of
ZETDC
transformer
which
occurred
at
Chingwena
Secondary
School,
Nyamapanda
in
December
2024.

In
August
2024,
a
41-year-old
man
from
Zvishavane,
Midlands
Province,
received
a
10-year
prison
sentence
for
vandalising
electricity
infrastructure.

Emmanuel
Sibanda
appeared
before
the
Zvishavane
Magistrates’
Court,
facing
charges
of
contravening
the
Electricity
Act.

He
was
specifically
accused
of
cutting,
damaging,
destroying,
or
interfering
with
apparatus
used
for
generating,
transmitting,
distributing,
or
supplying
electricity.

ZESA
Executive
Chairman
Sydney
Gata
highlighted
that,
over
the
five
years
leading
up
to
June
2024,
there
have
been
7,186
cases
of
vandalism,
resulting
in
a
staggering
cost
of
US$24.4
million.

Post
published
in:

Featured

JOHHANESBURG,
South
Africa
–
Police
have
condemned
the
brutal
murder
of
a
29-year-old
woman,
believed
to
have
been
shot
by
her
husband
in
cold
blood.

The
woman
was
brutally
murdered
in
Free
State,
before
the
husband
allegedly
fled
to
neighbouring
Zimbabwe.

“On
January
20
2025,
police
in
Musina
received
information
from
a
tracking
company
about
a
white
Ford
Ranger
with
a
Limpopo
registration,
which
had
been
parked
at
a
residence
in
Campbell,”
said
Limpopo
provincial
police
spokesperson,
Colonel
Malesela
Ledwaba.

The
vehicle’s
owner
had
been
reported
missing
since
Friday,
with
a
case
registered
under
Moroka
police
station
in
Gauteng.

“Police
rushed
to
the
scene
and
found
the
vehicle
at
the
residence.
The
owner
(of
the
house)
explained
that
he
had
kept
the
bakkie
in
his
yard
with
permission
from
the
male
owner,
who
had
borrowed
a
large
amount
of
cash
and
indicated
he
intended
to
cross
the
border
to
Zimbabwe
for
spiritual
assistance
due
to
issues
at
his
workplace,”
said
Ledwaba.

Further
police
investigations
revealed
that
the
vehicle’s
owner
was
accompanied
by
a
man
when
he
dropped
off
the
Ford
Ranger
on
January
17
at
around
10pm.

“During
preliminary
investigations,
police
discovered
bloodstains
inside
the
vehicle,
two
empty
rifle
cartridges,
three
empty
9mm
pistol
cartridges,
one
fragment
of
9mm
ammunition,
six
live
9mm
rounds,
two
black
9mm
pistol
magazines
–
one
with
15
rounds
and
one
empty
–
and
a
pair
of
black
gloves,”
said
Ledwaba.

A
24-year-old
suspect
believed
to
be
involved
in
the
incident
was
arrested
in
the
early
hours
of
Wednesday
at
his
residence
in
Tshamutumbu
policing
area
where
he
was
found
in
possession
of
two
firearms,
including
a
hunting
rifle
with
ammunition,
subsequent
to
an
intelligence-driven
operation
by
police
in
Musina.

At
the
time,
the
vehicle’s
owner
and
his
wife,
originally
from
Mutale
in
the
Vhembe
District
of
Limpopo,
were
still
reported
missing.

Further
investigation
led
to
the
discovery
of
the
body
of
the
29-year-old
woman,
who
had
multiple
gunshot
wounds,
on
Wednesday
night,
in
bushes
along
the
N1
in
Kromdraai,
in
Free
State.

“Preliminary
investigation
revealed
that
the
husband,
who
was
supposed
to
be
travelling
with
the
deceased,
passed
the
Verkeerdeveli
toll
gate
alone
in
the
same
bakkie
on
January
17.
It
was
at
the
turn-off
in
Kromdraai
where
the
woman’s
body
was
discovered,”
said
Ledwaba.

Meanwhile,
provincial
commissioner
of
police
in
Limpopo,
Lieutenant
General
Thembi
Hadebe,
has
strongly
condemned
the
“senseless
shooting”
that
resulted
in
the
tragic
death
of
the
woman.

The
South
African
Police
Service
is
searching
for
the
deceased
woman’s
husband,
Dakalo
Nemangwele,
34,
who
police
believe
can
assist
in
their
ongoing
investigation
regarding
the
murder.

“Anyone
with
information
that
may
assist
in
tracing
the
deceased’s
husband,
should
contact
Lieutenant
Colonel
Shuhani
Rendani,
on
cellphone
number
082
414
6683,
Crime
Stop
at
08600
1011,
or
via
the
MySAPSApp,”
the
police
appealed.

Speaking
at
the
Bulawayo
Media
Centre
on
Wednesday
evening,
Watson
explained
how
Tshabangu’s
actions
shifted
parliamentary
dynamics
in
Zanu
PF’s
favour,
undoing
the
CCC’s
success
in
denying
the
ruling
party
a
two-thirds
majority
in
the
2023
elections.

“Tshabangu’s
legitimacy
came
from
Zanu
PF’s
support.
The
CCC
had
blocked
a
two-thirds
majority,
but
these
recalls
gave
Zanu
PF
the
leverage
they
needed
to
pursue
their
agenda,”
Watson
said.

After
the
2023
elections,
Tshabangu
declared
himself
CCC’s
interim
secretary-general
and
began
recalling
elected
MPs,
councillors,
and
senators.
This
led
to
by-elections
that
allowed
Zanu
PF
to
regain
key
seats.

Watson
described
Tshabangu
as
a
pawn
in
a
larger
scheme
aimed
at
destabilising
the
opposition.

“Nelson
Chamisa
only
distanced
himself
from
CCC
when
it
became
clear
the
party
had
been
manipulated.
The
recalls
happened,
and
court
cases
stalled,”
she
said.

She
also
criticised
the
judiciary
for
failing
to
resolve
the
legitimacy
of
Tshabangu’s
actions.

“To
this
day,
the
courts
have
not
tested
his
legitimacy.
The
case
remains
on
summons,”
Watson
said.

Watson
alleged
the
recalls
paved
the
way
for
Zanu
PF’s
proposed
constitutional
amendments
and
criticised
a
public
show
of
unity
between
Tshabangu
and
President
Emmerson
Mnangagwa
during
a
farm
visit.

“The
visit
to
Mnangagwa’s
farm
was
the
final
proof.
Tshabangu
and
Zanu
PF
played
this
as
a
charade
to
present
a
false
sense
of
opposition
cooperation,”
she
said.

Watson
also
condemned
both
the
government
and
opposition
for
failing
to
deliver.

“Government
is
not
a
business;
it’s
about
serving
taxpayers.
Right
now,
neither
the
government
nor
the
opposition
is
meeting
the
people’s
needs,”
she
said.

She
questioned
the
government’s
touted
successes,
including
the
Gwayi-Shangani
Dam
and
Hwange
7
and
8
power
station
projects.

“Gwayi-Shangani
has
had
some
progress,
but
at
what
cost?
Hwange
7
and
8
were
funded
by
massive
loans
from
China.
Who
knows
the
interest
rates
or
whether
repayments
are
being
made?
Our
children
and
grandchildren
will
shoulder
this
debt,”
she
said.

Watson
pointed
to
ongoing
power
cuts
and
challenges
with
the
Zimbabwe
Electricity
Supply
Authority
(ZESA)
as
evidence
of
failure.

“We
still
face
11
to
18-hour
power
cuts.
ZESA’s
problems
remain
unsolved,”
she
said.

Watson
introduced
the
Democratic
Alternative
as
a
potential
new
movement
to
restore
democracy
following
CCC’s
fragmentation.

“CCC
as
a
democratic
vehicle
has
been
destroyed
by
Tshabangu.
The
Democratic
Alternative
is
still
in
its
early
stages,
but
Zimbabweans
deserve
true
democracy,
not
autocracy,”
she
said.

Addressing
concerns
about
her
political
alignment,
Watson
emphasized
her
commitment
to
democracy.
“If
I
wear
yellow,
some
will
think
I’m
CCC.
But
this
is
about
creating
a
platform
for
democracy,”
she
concluded.

Families
have
raised
concerns
over
the
treatment
of
non-paying
patients,
particularly
the
elderly.
One
family
in
Bulawayo
shared
their
distress
after
their
80-year-old
father,
suffering
from
high
blood
pressure,
diabetes,
and
sores,
was
seemingly
overlooked
by
hospital
staff.

“We
thought
his
condition,
especially
the
wounds,
needed
admission
so
they
could
be
dressed
daily.
But
the
nurses
and
doctor
seemed
eager
to
send
him
home,”
a
family
member
said.

A
doctor,
speaking
anonymously,
acknowledged
this
trend.
“Hospitals
rely
on
paying
patients
to
generate
revenue
because
government
funding
is
limited.
This
means
prioritising
those
who
can
pay,”
the
doctor
explained.

Health
experts
and
advocacy
groups
have
voiced
alarm
over
the
government’s
declining
commitment
to
public
healthcare
funding.

Thokozile
Ruzvidzo,
Director
of
the
Zimbabwe
Women’s
Resource
Centre
and
Network
(ZWRCN),
noted
the
2025
National
Budget
allocates
only
ZW$28.3
billion
(US$785.9
million)
to
the
Ministry
of
Health
and
Child
Care—just
10%
of
total
spending,
down
from
10.6%
in
2024.

This
allocation
is
far
below
the
Abuja
Declaration
target
of
15%.

Ruzvidzo
also
highlighted
the
drop
in
per
capita
health
spending
from
US$71.8
in
2024
to
US$65
in
2025,
significantly
lower
than
the
global
averages
reported
by
the
WHO.

Community
Working
Group
on
Health
(CWGH)
Executive
Director
Itai
Rusike
criticised
the
reliance
on
out-of-pocket
and
external
funding.

“Inadequate
public
financing
leaves
patients
bearing
the
brunt
of
healthcare
costs,”
he
said.

Rusike
pointed
out
that
while
funds
have
been
earmarked
for
hospital
construction,
medical
equipment,
and
ambulances
in
2025,
the
allocations
fall
short
of
what
is
required.

He
also
stressed
the
need
for
timely
disbursements,
noting
the
Ministry
of
Health
had
only
received
52.6%
of
its
budget
by
September
2024.

Rusike
noted
that
funding
gaps
disproportionately
affect
vulnerable
groups,
including
women,
newborns,
children,
and
adolescents.

“No
country
can
achieve
universal
health
coverage
(UHC)
without
relying
on
a
dominant
share
of
public
funds.
It
is
crucial
to
ensure
resources
are
adequately
allocated,
efficiently
used,
and
accessible
to
all,
especially
the
most
vulnerable,”
he
said.

“Internet
in
a
Box”
is
a
digital
library
that
allows
students
to
access
educational
materials
offline,
eliminating
the
need
for
an
internet
connection.

To
date,
ARTUZ
has
provided
35
such
facilities
to
schools
in
remote
areas,
giving
students
access
to
digital
learning
tools
and
resources.

“This
initiative
marks
a
significant
step
towards
bridging
the
digital
divide
and
ensuring
that
rural
schools
can
access
much-needed
educational
materials,”
ARTUZ
stated.

In
addition
to
these
donations,
ARTUZ
has
been
hosting
community
dialogues
to
tackle
Zimbabwe’s
ongoing
education
crisis.
These
dialogues,
led
by
parents
and
teachers,
have
recently
taken
place
in
communities
such
as
Binga
and
Seke.

Participants
raised
several
concerns,
including
the
government’s
failure
to
provide
teachers
with
salaries
above
the
Poverty
Datum
Line
(PDL).

Both
parents
and
educators
expressed
frustration
that
the
low
salaries
are
impacting
teacher
morale
and
the
overall
quality
of
education.

Parents
also
voiced
concerns
about
the
growing
reliance
on
extra
lessons,
which
place
an
undue
financial
burden
on
families
and
exacerbate
inequities
in
the
education
system.

“There
is
a
call
for
the
government
to
intervene
and
abolish
extra
lessons,
ensuring
that
quality
education
is
delivered
during
regular
school
hours,”
ARTUZ
noted.

Additionally,
participants
demanded
that
the
government
fulfill
its
promise
of
free
education,
citing
frustration
over
continued
financial
pressures
despite
assurances
of
a
no-cost
education
system.

ARTUZ
highlighted
a
community
call
for
every
school
to
have
a
designated
social
worker
to
address
the
emotional
and
psychological
challenges
faced
by
students.
“Social
workers
are
essential
to
supporting
children’s
academic
and
personal
development,”
the
union
emphasized.

Another
key
demand
is
for
every
school
to
have
access
to
clean,
running
water.
“Access
to
clean
water
is
fundamental
to
the
health
and
well-being
of
learners,
particularly
in
rural
areas,”
ARTUZ
said.

Parents
also
called
for
the
restructuring
of
the
Basic
Education
Assistance
Module
(BEAM)
to
better
serve
vulnerable
children’s
educational
needs.

Participants
stressed
the
urgency
of
a
supplementary
budget
to
support
the
school
feeding
program,
critical
for
student
retention
and
academic
performance
in
rural
communities.

“There
was
a
unanimous
appeal
for
the
government
to
stop
delaying
school
fee
payments
through
the
BEAM
program.
Delays,
coupled
with
payments
in
a
rapidly
devaluing
local
currency,
are
causing
significant
disruptions
in
the
education
process,”
ARTUZ
stated.