Hunger grips southern Africa as Zimbabwe declares drought a disaster
Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday declared Zimbabwe’s drought a national disaster and said the country needed more than $US2 billion in aid to feed millions facing hunger. Mnangagwa’s statement follows similar announcements by Zambia in late February and Malawi in March, as drought induced by the El Nino global weather pattern triggers […]
Zimbabwe sect leader accused of child abuse is denied bail
Norton, Zimbabwe Reuters The leader of a religious sect in Zimbabwe was denied bail on Tuesday after being arrested last week for suspected child abuse when police found 251 minors working on his farm and 16 graves. Ishmael Chokurongerwa, 56, described by police as a “self-styled prophet” appeared in court in the town of Norton […]
Zimbabwe goes hungry as crops wither amid El Nino drought
Buhera, Zimbabwe Reuters Residents of the Zimbabwean village of Buhera stood in groups at a primary school waiting to be called by name to receive life-saving handouts of grain, peas and cooking oil. “We are grateful, but the food will only be enough for one month,” said Mushaikwa, 71, who lives with her elderly husband, […]
Zimbabwe sect leader held after 251 children rescued from farm labour
Harare, Zimbabwe Reuters A Zimbabwean sect leader and “self-styled prophet” appeared in court on Thursday charged with child abuse after police raided his farm and rescued more than 200 children doing physical labour, police said. The children “were subjected to abuse as cheap labour, doing manual work in the name of being taught life skills”, […]
Zimbabwe police rescue 251 children used as labour and find graves in religious sect compound raid
Harare, Zimbabwe AP Zimbabwe police on Wednesday said they have arrested a man claiming to be a prophet of an apostolic sect at a shrine where believers stay in a compound and authorities found 16 unregistered graves, including those of infants, and more than 250 children used as cheap labour. In a statement, police spokesman […]
Zimbabwe opposition leader freed from two years’ pre-trial detention
Harare. Zimbabwe Reuters A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday freed opposition politician Job Sikhala after nearly 600 days of pre-trial detention on charges of inciting public violence in 2022. Sikhala, 51, a leader in the opposition party Citizens Coalition for Change, has been arrested dozens of times since he began his political career in 1999. A […]
WFP plans food relief for 270,000 Zimbabweans, poor harvest expected
Harare, ZimbabweReuters The World Food Programme is planning to feed 270,000 hungry Zimbabweans over the next three months, an official said as the country braces for a poor harvest due to an El Nino-induced drought. The southern African country has been struggling to feed itself since 2000, when former leader Robert Mugabe led the seizure […]
Zimbabwe searches for mine survivors as relatives lose hope
Chegutu, Zimbabwe Reuters Zimbabwean authorities were still searching on Monday for survivors trapped underground when a disused gold mine collapsed last week, as some relatives started to lose hope their loved ones could be saved. Accidents in disused mines are common in Zimbabwe, where artisanal or small-scale miners defy authorities by mining in old shafts […]
Zimbabwe sets extra day of voting in selected wards after delays
Harare, Zimnbabwe Reuters Zimbabwe has extended voting in selected wards by a day after the late distribution of ballot papers delayed polling, according to a presidential decree issued late Wednesday. Voters in the southern African country waited for hours to vote on Wednesday, saying they were hungry for change from economic chaos, but analysts were […]
Zimbabwe opposition leader launches campaign with promise of prosperity
Gweru, Zimbabwe Reuters Zimbabwe’s main opposition leader Nelson Chamisa promised economic prosperity and an end to corruption as he launched his party’s campaign on Sunday for national elections set for 23rd August. Chamisa, who leads the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change, is running against 80-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who has led the ruling Zanu-PF since […]