Fuel prices increase

Fuel prices increase     Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter 15/7/2019 FUEL prices have gone up with some filling stations in Bulawayo selling diesel and petrol slightly above the recommended maximum price stipulated by the Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera). Zera announced the price adjustments on Saturday with the maximum pump price of diesel and petrol set …

Zesa dismisses four-day load shedding reports

Zesa dismisses four-day load shedding reports     Paidamoyo Chipunza, Harare Bureau 15/7/2019 The Zimbabwe Electricity Transmission and Distribution Company (ZETDC) has dismissed reports that it will switch to stage four of load shedding, which would see affected suburbs experiencing four days without electricity. In a statement yesterday, ZETDC said stage four was “non-existent”. ZETDC indicated that …

Decisions on jumbos must factor in communities

Decisions on jumbos must factor in communities     The expansion of human settlements, and associated agricultural activities in the semi-arid areas where most elephants currently survive, has also created a big problem – human-wildlife conflict 15/7/2019 Tinashe Farawo, Correspondent THERE is no doubt that Zimbabwe has a proud history of successful elephant conservation, and is one …

Solar use incentives on the cards…‘Ease pressure on Zesa’

Solar use incentives on the cards…‘Ease pressure on Zesa’     Minister Fortune Chasi 18/7/2019 Africa Moyo, Harare Bureau Government is crafting incentives to promote investment into solar energy to reduce pressure on grid electricity, whose generation is currently depressed due to low water levels in Kariba dam. This was said by Energy and Power Development Minister …

Let’s invest in solar power to bridge energy supply gap

EDITORIAL COMMENT: Let’s invest in solar power to bridge energy supply gap     16/7/2019 TWO solar power projects in Gwanda district of Matabeleland South poignantly illustrate the urgency for Zimbabwe to adopt alternative sources of power in the midst of crippling power shortages exacerbated by ageing thermal power plants and low water levels at Kariba …

Rogue tobacco growers risk losing farms

Rogue tobacco growers risk losing farms     Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent Tobacco farmers who flout stipulated rules and regulations that govern the farming of the crop risk losing their farms, Midlands Provincial Crops and Livestock Officer Mrs Madeline Magwenzi has said. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of a Midlands Province tobacco awareness campaign launch in …

Subdued Sadc food security situation in 2018/19 season

Subdued Sadc food security situation in 2018/19 season     A wilting maize crop in a Zimbabwe resettlement area 18/7/2019 Kizito Sikuka A regional food security assessment indicates that southern Africa has a cereal deficit of more than 5.4 million tonnes this year following a subdued 2018/19 farming season. This is according to a Synthesis Report …

Cabinet sets out stringent measures on electricity, fuel

Cabinet sets out stringent measures on electricity, fuel     Minister Monica Mutsvangwa Zvamaida Murwira, Harare Bureau Government has approved a duty waiver on solar equipment and allowed mining firms to procure energy directly from the Southern Africa Power Pool. Further, selected hotels in resort areas will soon start paying electricity bills in foreign currency, as part …

Cottco cushions cotton farmers

Cottco cushions cotton farmers     Martin Kadzere, Harare Bureau 18/7/2019 THE country’s largest financier of cotton farmers, the Cotton Company of Zimbabwe (Cottco), has increased the producer price of the commodity by 54 percent to cushion growers from rising inflation. Government initially pegged the producer price of raw cotton at $1,95 per kilogramme, but prevailing high …

Agribank clinches US$10,5m facility

Agribank clinches US$10,5m facility     Nesia Mhaka,Harare Bureau Government, through Agribank, has secured a US$10,5 million facility for irrigation equipment and machinery under the Pedstock Centre Pivots Irrigation Facility (Phase 2) from Spain, which will benefit both large and small scale farmers, as the country moves to improve productivity. The development comes at a time …