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7+ min ago (659+ words) IT is a Saturday night party." The easterly wind innocently blows across the vicinity carrying the ambrosia of the lively nature that pervades the atmosphere at this popular outdoor leisure centre." From a distance, loud Zimdancehall music is playing at high volume. Teenagers are merrymaking, gyrating to the good vibes, toasting ciders and whisky, punctuated by a massive braai." But beneath the surface of revelry and joy, a more sinister reality lurks. The carefree atmosphere is also a breeding ground for risk-taking behaviour, as some partygoers turn to drugs and unprotected sex, increasing their vulnerability to HIV infection." This scene, played out in leisure centres across the country, highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions to address the rising tide of new HIV infections among Zimbabwe's youth." In a recent media briefing, before a media tour through Makoni, Chipinge and…...

16+ min ago (633+ words) US president orders 5,000 Ethiopians to leave in 60 days amid broader push to end protections for more than one million people. The United States has ended temporary legal protections for thousands of Ethiopian nationals, ordering them to leave the country within 60 days or face arrest and deportation. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the decision on Friday, determining that conditions in Ethiopia "no longer pose a serious threat" to returning nationals despite ongoing violence in parts of the country. The move affects approximately 5,000 refugees who fled armed conflict and is the latest action in the administration's hardline crackdown to remove legal protections from at least one million people across multiple countries. The termination of Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Ethiopia takes effect in early February 2026, giving current beneficiaries two months to either leave voluntarily or find another legal basis to remain…...

17+ min ago (358+ words) Fresh from leading India to the Women's World Cup triumph, skipper Harmanpreet Kaur was in attendance at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, New Chandigarh for the second T20I between India and South Africa. The pre-match session marked a special moment in the cricketer's life, as the Punjab Cricket Association honoured her with a stand at the ground. Taking a note of the same, star batter and Harmanpreet's teammate Smriti Mandhana expressed her joy and pride for the former, as she got a stand named after her at one of the newest international venues in the country." "Congratulations Harmanpreet Kaur! What a day for women's cricket, and so, so proud of you!" Smriti wrote in her Instagram story. Harmanpreet herself was elated and shared that it was a moment of great pride for her, as she got a stand in…...

34+ min ago (796+ words) In this image made from video, Rwandan police patrol a road in Palma, Cabo Delgado province, Mozambique Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021. (Credit: Marc Hoogsteyns/AP.) YAOUND, Cameroon " In his visit to the Southern African country of Mozambique, Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin paid a risky visit to the war-ravaged town of Cabo Delgado where terrorism and natural disasters have brought untold hardship to the people. The Vatican diplomat told victims that their sufferings, fears and anxieties, and hopes, "are in the heart of Mother Church and have a special place in the heart of the Successor of Peter." Parolin was speaking Dec. 8 at St. Paul Cathedral in Pemba as part of his December 5-10 visit to the southern African country. Mozambique is a country nearly evenly divided between Christians and Muslims, with Christians constituting 47 percent of the country's nearly 35 million inhabitants....

39+ min ago (418+ words) Home " WATCH: SAA kicks off brand new route SAA has officially expanded its network, touching down in a popular holiday destination this past week. Take a look" South African Airways (SAA) has expanded its regional network with the launch of a new direct route. The route links Cape Town and Mauritius, and officially began operating on 9 December. The service marks the national carrier's first-ever nonstop connection between the Western Cape and the Indian Ocean island destination, strengthening travel links between South Africa and Mauritius and catering to growing leisure demand. Flights operate three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. The outbound service departs Cape Town at 09:25 and arrives in Mauritius at 16:30, with a flight time of just over five hours. The return flight leaves Mauritius at 17:20 and lands in Cape Town at 21:30. SAA said the route will operate…...

41+ min ago (454+ words) DESPITE a high rate of registration for the Government of Zimbabwe's electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system, its inconsistent use by health institutions is creating a direct threat to the timely supply of essential maternal health commodities, according to discussions held at a multi-stakeholder meeting in Mutare yesterday." Launched in 2023, the e-GP system was designed to modernise public procurement, boost transparency and efficiency, reduce human interference and minimise corruption risks." A recent presentation by TI-Z highlighted that inadequate resources hinder compliance in the use of the e-GP system." "The training highlighted that procurement management units are struggling to fully comply with the e-GP due to inadequate resources." They added that compliance with the e-GP system by procurement officers in the health sector is crucial for ensuring transparency, accountability, and efficiency in the procurement process." Said TI-Z: "In addition, it was noted…...

45+ min ago (843+ words) Few would be drawn to the historic university town of Oxford for the purpose of birding. I wouldn't either, I'm afraid. England has some fantastic places for birding such as the North Norfolk coast, but Oxford doesn't qualify. From what I've experienced, the city should continue capitalising on its ancient colleges and on being the set for various movies rather than venture into the market of ecotourism. Not that it tried, to be fair. It's more that I need a scapegoat after being desperate for some birding and facing ensuing disappointment at the meagre pickings. A more humble birder would probably look for a fault in their own abilities rather than run a smear campaign against the birding destination. I'll try my best to live up to this expectation by sharing a few impressions of my brief outing a few…...

57+ min ago (443+ words) From hands-on demonstrations of 5G, Internet of Things (IoT) and cloud-based solutions to expert masterclasses, hackathons and e-gaming, the expo highlighted the pace at which Zimbabwe's digital ecosystem is evolving, in line with global innovation trends." Held this week at the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC), the expo attracted some of the world's leading technology brands, including Ericsson, Huawei, Samsung and ZTE, and mirrored the innovation-rich atmosphere seen at major global events such as Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, CES in Las Vegas and GITEX Global in Dubai." Ericsson's key accounts manager, Luis Martins, said the Swedish technology giant's partnership with Econet stretches back more than two decades." "It's an honour for Ericsson to be present at this expo," he said." "We've worked with Econet since 1998 " right from the launch of 2G, through 3G and 4G, and now 5G." "We are very pleased to be…...

1+ hour, 8+ min ago (520+ words) In the round of a boma on the grounds of an exceedingly quaint safari lodge in Mpumalanga, as the heady smoke from the braai drenched our clothes and birds chattered, we toasted new friends with a shot of springbokkie. I'm travelling with a group of travel industry representatives, including South African locals, and Australian media to celebrate the recommencement of direct Qantas flights between Perth and Johannesburg. All of us, in one way or another, want to leave the country with a clutch of captivating stories that might demystify this magical destination without detracting from its allure. This reconnection of the two countries, via QF65 three times a week, is not only a huge coup for curious travellers but also the enormous South African diaspora in Western Australia. One could not help but be deeply moved by the emotional reunions at…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (395+ words) Home " Another country issues a travel warning for South Africa Yet another country has issued a travel warning for citizens travelling to SA, urging visitors to exercise caution due to crime. Canada has issued an updated travel warning for South Africa, urging its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution while travelling in the country. In guidance published on 4 December, Canadian authorities cited ongoing concerns around crime and personal safety. The advisory notes that violent crime occurs across South Africa and has, at times, affected foreign visitors. Reported incidents include robbery, carjacking, assault and other serious crimes. According to BusinessTech, Canadian travellers are advised to remain alert, particularly in busy urban areas and after dark, and to avoid resisting if confronted by criminals. The travel warning also encourages visitors to stay in accommodation with appropriate security measures and to…...