Zimbabwe’s Capital Contaminated Its Water. Now, Residents Must Pay to Use It.
The Mukuvisi River feeds Lake Chivero, Harare’s primary water source. The city has discharged sewage into the river for years. Credit – Linda Mujuru Linda Mujuru HARARE, ZIMBABWE — For years, this country’s capital city has discharged sewage into its main water supply. Then, the city started charging to purify the water — a cost […]
Empowering Farmers To Make Better Decisions with PICSA
In the ever-changing climate of southern Zimbabwe, smallholder farmers face increasing challenges. However, a revolutionary approach, Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA), is transforming how they adapt and thrive. PICSA is a participatory approach to climate services and agricultural extension, originally developed by researchers at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom. By combining […]
Beyond Surface Deep: Africa Needs to Invest More in Understanding Groundwater Knowledge
Zimbabwean Deputy Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Vangelis Peter Haritatos John Cassim In 2000, water experts in Africa agreed that water communities across the continent should utilize existing water resources for socio-economic development, poverty alleviation, regional integration, and environmental sustainability. The year 2025 was agreed upon as the time when a […]
Innovating Water Harvesting and Climate-Smart Agriculture in Mwenezi
Chizivano Shava and his wife Patience Mazanhi inspects their field in Mwenezi In the drought-prone district of Mwenezi, Zimbabwe, farmers battle unpredictable rainfall and dwindling agricultural yields. Climate change has made traditional farming methods unreliable, forcing smallholder farmers to seek new solutions. For Chizivano Shava, a lead farmer in the Climate Resilient Livelihoods (CRL) project, […]
Kapenta Industry in Crisis: Economic Pressures Lead to Unsustainable Fishing
A crate of Kapenta on a scale, a few minutes after offloading on the shores of Lake Kariba, a full crate weighs between 50kg and 60kg but when dried the weight is just a third of this mass.Credit: ConserveZim – John Cassim John Cassim The Kapenta fishing industry on Lake Kariba faces a critical decline, […]
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 […]