Nurses on strike, highlighting healthcare challenges

HARARE – The body of a 64-year-old nurse from Mwenezi, Frank Siziba, has been recovered nearly three weeks after the flooded Muchingwizi River swept him away. Police confirmed that Siziba’s remains were discovered on Wednesday, March 25, about five kilometres downstream from a river crossing point where he is believed to have been carried away.

HARARE – A high-stakes divorce dispute between businessman Wicknell Chivayo and his ex-wife Sonja Madzikanda has escalated, with Madzikanda demanding a US$25 million lump sum, US$40,000 monthly maintenance and a fleet of luxury vehicles. The demands are outlined in court papers before the High Court’s Family Division, where Chivayo is also seeking interim access to the couple’s two minor children.

HARARE – At least 13 United States military bases across the Middle East have been rendered uninhabitable following Iranian strikes, forcing American troops to relocate to temporary sites, including hotels and office spaces, according to a report by The New York Times.

At the corner of 1st Street and Speke Avenue, the transformation did not arrive with a Harare City Council policy directive or a public notice. It crept in. One kombi stopped where it should not have. A few passengers boarded. Another followed. Then came the vendors, the touts, the whistles, the hooting, the improvised commuter ranks. Today, what was once an intersection is, in practice, an illegal commuter omnibus rank. No one officially designated it. Yet everyone participa

HARARE – The Zimbabwean government says it is finalising plans to implement a long-awaited salary increase for civil servants starting in April, with negotiations expected to conclude within days.

HARARE – At least 15 Zimbabwean nationals have died in the ongoing Russia–Ukraine War after being allegedly trafficked into joining Russian forces through criminal recruitment networks, the government has confirmed. Speaking at a press conference in Harare on Wednesday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Zhemu Soda said the victims were lured with promises of lucrative jobs abroad, only to be deployed to active war zones.

HARARE – In a strategic move to modernize its notoriously fragmented accounting systems, the City of Harare has announced the procurement of 100 state-of-the-art computers to support the full-scale rollout of its Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The update was delivered by Ward 18 Councillor Rufaro Matsika during a high-level consultative meeting with the Borrowdale Residents and Ratepayers Association (BRRA) at the Borrowdale Country Club on Tuesday night.

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police has confirmed the arrest of a Harare woman captured in a viral video assaulting a young boy, in a case that has sparked nationwide outrage. Police identified the suspect as Mercy Kawesa (36), of Overspill, Epworth. Authorities confirmed she is the mother of the child seen in the footage.

HARARE – Chiredzi South legislator Joel Sithole has been arrested by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) on allegations of abusing public funds under the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

HARARE – In a direct response to the escalating energy crisis in the Middle East, the Government of Zimbabwe has moved to stabilize the domestic economy by approving "time-bound" fuel tax reductions. The move, announced by Information Minister Zhemu Soda during Tuesday’s post-Cabinet briefing, aims to shield consumers from the inflationary "tsunami" currently hitting the transport and basic commodity sectors.

HARARE – New claims about the human toll of the ongoing conflict involving Israel have surfaced, with Iran-linked media suggesting significantly higher casualty figures than official reports.

HARARE – US-based Zimbabwean comedian Learnmore Jonasi has launched a public fundraising appeal after being hit with a US$27 million lawsuit, turning to a GoFundMe campaign to cover mounting legal costs. Jonasi is seeking to raise US$20,000 to fund his legal defence, saying the financial burden of fighting the case is beyond his means.

HARARE – The Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has sworn in 17 new magistrates as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen capacity and reduce case backlogs across Zimbabwe’s courts.

HARARE – The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) has suspended its controversial 10% local currency retention requirement for small-scale gold miners, reverting to 100% US dollar payments following strong resistance from the sector. The policy reversal comes less than a month after the central bank introduced a 90:10 payment framework on February 27, requiring artisanal miners to receive a portion of their gold proceeds in Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).

HARARE – Vendors and residents in Southerton have raised serious concerns over alleged harassment and extortion by a municipal police officer known only as “Bhuru,” amid claims that licensed traders are being targeted despite complying with city regulations. The allegations point to a breakdown in coordination within the City of Harare, particularly between the Markets Office and municipal police, with traders saying enforcement practices are undermining official policy.

Held at the Harare International Conference Centre, this year’s awards were anchored on the theme “Fearless Creativity,” a fitting description of an industry now pushing beyond borders. From new categories such as Fashion and Digital Arts to international breakthroughs in film, Zimbabwe’s “creative economy” is shifting from local celebration to global competition.

HARARE – A 44-year-old clergyman from the high-density suburb of Glen View has been sentenced to an effective nine months in prison following a harrowing case of indecent assault involving a young member of his congregation.

HARARE – A 40-year-old salesman with Pacific Tobacco Company was robbed of US$19,530 in a daring daylight heist at Vengere Musika in Rusape, police have confirmed. The incident occurred last Wednesday afternoon at the busy marketplace, raising fresh concerns over security at commercial hubs in Manicaland.

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Republic Police has pledged to protect journalists covering the upcoming public hearings on Amendment Bill No. 3, amid concerns over potential tensions during the process.