Zimbabwe rain-related deaths rise to 109 as heavy floods destroy homes, damage schools and strain emergency response, with thousands of households affected nationwide ( image source ) The death toll from rain-related incidents in Zimbabwe has risen to 109, up from 79 last week, as sustained heavy rains continue to affect large parts of the country. The latest Civil Protection Unit (CPU) situation report shows 8,295 households affected, 334 homes destroyed and 236 schools dama

Andy Muridzo publicly apologises to former mentor Jah Prayzah through a new song, ending years of tension and signalling reconciliation welcomed across Zimbabwe’s music industry ( image source ) AFRO-fusion artist Andy Muridzo has issued a public apology to his former mentor Jah Prayzah, ending years of public criticism and drawing widespread praise across Zimbabwe’s music industry. The reconciliation follows a prolonged period of tension that began after Muridzo left Jah Pra

( image source ) Zimbabwe’s public discourse follows a familiar cycle. A remark goes viral, a symbolic issue ignites outrage, or a minor controversy dominates social media and talk shows. For days or weeks, the country is consumed. Then attention shifts, leaving little changed. Meanwhile, the fundamentals — productivity, service delivery, policy coherence and competitiveness — continue to struggle for sustained attention. This tendency is often described as “majoring in the m

Zimura vice-chair First Batani defends his election and rejects past allegations as governance disputes deepen over board elections, asset sales and leadership legitimacy ( image source ) HARARE — Newly elected Zimbabwe Music Rights Association (Zimura) vice-chairperson First Batani, popularly known as First Farai, has strongly defended his leadership position, dismissing criticism of his election as malicious, agenda-driven and rooted in personal vendettas rather than legiti

UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo criticises Wicknell Chivayo and Fadzayi Mahere after backlash over CNN remarks about cutting ties with Zimbabwe ( image source ) Zimbabwean-born UFC fighter Themba Gorimbo has sparked a heated public exchange after criticising businessman Wicknell Chivayo and former MP Fadzayi Mahere, following backlash over remarks he made during a recent CNN interview. In the interview, Gorimbo said he had severed ties with both his family and Zimbabwe, and disclo

The Office of the President and Cabinet has voided provincial river-rehabilitation deals, ordered a crackdown on illegal mining, and directed enforcement of SI 188 of 2024 nationwide ( image source ) HARARE — The Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) has ordered all provinces to immediately enforce Statutory Instrument 188 of 2024, effectively cancelling controversial private river-rehabilitation agreements and tightening control over alluvial mining operations. In a dire

ZANU PF says it is nearing completion of processes to amend Zimbabwe’s Constitution to extend President Mnangagwa’s term to 2030, with Cabinet and Parliament stages next ( image source ) CHINHOYI — ZANU PF says its internal process to amend the Constitution in line with Resolution Number One — a proposal aimed at extending President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s term of office to 2030 — is nearing completion, with formal government procedures expected to begin next month. Party Secret

PHD Ministries founder Walter Magaya has been remanded in custody ahead of a 16–19 February trial in Harare on four rape charges involving alleged incidents between 2016 and 2023 ( image source ) HARARE — Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya was remanded in custody on Monday and will remain detained until 16 February, when he is scheduled to stand trial on four counts of rape. The trial is set to run on a continuous roll from 16 to 19 Febru

ZERA set Zimbabwe’s petrol ceiling at US$1.57 per litre, but some stations are reportedly charging US$1.59, raising consumer concerns and calls for stronger enforcement ( image source ) HARARE — The Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (ZERA) set a maximum petrol price of US$1.57 per litre earlier this month to cushion consumers from global fuel price volatility, but field observations indicate some fuel stations may be charging US$1.59, exceeding the official ceiling. Major

Mahwindi4ED pays school fees for 150 vulnerable pupils in Mutare’s Sakubva and Dangamvura suburbs ( image source ) A ZANU-PF affiliate, Mahwindi for Economic Development (Mahwindi4ED), has paid school fees for 150 vulnerable learners across 10 government primary schools in Mutare, easing immediate financial pressure on struggling families in the high-density suburbs of Sakubva and Dangamvura. The payments, made on Friday by the organisation’s Manicaland chapter, covered 15 pu

A practical 5-step guide for Zimbabwean artists to formalise their work, access funding, protect their brand, and align with NDS2 as creativity becomes a structured, bankable industry ( image source ) Last week we took a detour into the ZIMURA soap opera. Necessary, yes but this week we’re climbing back onto the NDS2 horse before it gallops off without us. Let’s talk about a word that makes many creatives itch, formalisation. For decades, being a “starving artist” was worn li

Creative Business Academy for Africa launches its 2026 “IMPACT: Ecosystem Template” programme, expanding into music, film and fashion to incubate Africa’s next generation of creative-industry professionals ( image source ) Harare — The Creative Business Academy for Africa (CBAfA), formerly the Music Business Academy for Africa, has unveiled its 2026 programme under the theme “IMPACT: An Ecosystem Template,” signalling a strategic expansion beyond music into film and fashion t

Education Minister Torerayi Moyo dismisses viral claims of a 100% ZIMSEC exam-fee hike for 2026 ( image source ) Harare — Primary and Secondary Education Minister Torerayi Moyo has publicly dismissed viral social-media reports claiming that the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) increased public examination fees for 2026 by 100 percent. In a statement issued today, Minister Moyo said fees for Grade 7, Form 4 and Form 6 public examinations scheduled for November 202

A South African study finds blood contamination and Hepatitis B DNA on barber clippers, warning of infection risks in clean-shave haircuts and highlighting urgent hygiene and vaccination needs for Zimbabwe ( image source ) A University of Cape Town study led by Professor Nonhlanhla Khumalo found widespread blood contamination on barber clippers and detectable Hepatitis B (HBV) DNA, highlighting a real transmission risk in clean-shave haircuts common across southern Africa. Pu

An analysis of the “Chamisa–Madhuku model” examines whether episodic mobilisation and rebranding in Zimbabwean opposition politics undermine long-term institution-building and sustainable political change ( image source ) The comparison between Nelson Chamisa and Lovemore Madhuku has moved from rhetorical shorthand to a substantive line of inquiry for analysts of Zimbabwean opposition politics. Critics argue both figures exemplify a political model that privileges episodic mo

Outrage grows in Chitungwiza over a reported US$147,000 mayoral vehicle purchase, as residents question governance, transparency and spending priorities amid salary arrears and failing services ( image source ) A storm of public criticism has engulfed Chitungwiza municipality after reports that the mayor’s office acquired a high-end vehicle estimated at US$147,000. The purchase has provoked questions about fiscal priorities in a municipality grappling with salary arrears, fai

Thomas Mapfumo will return to Zimbabwe in April 2026 for a final homecoming performance, marking an emotional farewell by the Chimurenga music icon and national cultural legend ( image source ) Dr Thomas Tafirenyika Muchadura Mukanya Mapfumo — the Lion of Zimbabwe and a towering figure in Chimurenga music — has announced he will return to Zimbabwe in April 2026 for a special curtain-call performance expected to be his final live appearance in the country. The announcement fol

Zimbabwean musicians confronted ZIMURA in a historic protest over royalties, governance and transparency, as Chief Hwenje’s fiery address symbolised growing industry unrest ( image source ) If you wandered past the Zimbabwe College of Music this past Monday, you might have thought a once-in-a-generation collaboration was loading. Trevor Dongo. Seh Calaz. Guspy Warrior. Ndunge Yuti. Chief Hwenje. All present. All serious. But there were no microphones, no soundchecks, and no h

Sobukhazi High pupils were sent home after a secret WhatsApp group shared explicit content, cyberbullying and risky party plans, prompting safeguarding action and calls for stronger digital supervision ( image source ) A group of pupils at Sobukhazi High School in Bulawayo have been temporarily sent home after school authorities uncovered a secret WhatsApp channel allegedly used to share explicit material, cyberbullying content and invitations to risky informal gatherings kno

ZIMSEC withholds three A-Level Computer Science results at Bikita Fashu High ( image source ) The Zimbabwe Schools Examination Council (ZIMSEC) has withheld the 2025 Advanced Level Computer Science results of three candidates from Bikita Fashu High School in Masvingo Province while it investigates suspected examination irregularities. ZIMSEC spokesperson Nicky Dhlamini confirmed the action and said the school has 42 days to submit a written explanation and supporting documen