Zimbabwe Roundup: Cholera vaccination, foreign investment, corruption
Foreign investment
Foreign investors have lowered their interest in the local capital markets in Zimbabwe with participation on annual value now averaging 3%. This is due to policy inconsistency and inflation according to research firms. The downsizing has been ongoing since 2015, with a 7% and 3% foreign investor participation on annual value traded recorded in 2022 and 2023 respectively, according to News Day.
Corruption
A deputy Director of the Road Services Division at the Transport Ministry, Ernest Shenje has been arrested after allegations of falsely claiming compensation for a property affected by the construction of a roundabout to the tune of US$1 million. The minister was exposed after media reports which highlighted his dubious activities with regard to the multi-million-dollar traffic interchange project. His accomplice, Levy Idana who received US$ 200,000 is currently at large, according to My Zimbabwe news outlet.
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UK backs out of support for debt clearance
The United Kingdom has backed Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process amidst the disengagement of the same by the United States. This was affirmed by the UK Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Pete Vowles who reiterated the potential benefits of restructuring the country’s debt. Other countries including France, Germany, and Japan are still supporting Zimbabwe and participating in negotiations geared at helping the country resuscitate its economy. The World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and AFDB are also part of the negotiations, The Sunday Mail reported.
Armyworm invasion
Seven districts of Zimbabwe’s four provinces have been affected by the African armyworm, The Herald reported. 192,5 hectares of maize, 69,3 hectares of sorghum, less than one hectare of finger millet, and 32 hectares of pastures have been affected by the pest. Authorities have sent a caution to the public to take note to report any such cases to avoid losses. So far, the Department of Migratory Pests and Biosecurity Control has assisted 234 households that have reported cases of the African Armyworm.
Cholera Vaccination
Zimbabwe begins the nationwide cholera vaccination campaign with the initial phase targeting four severely affected districts in three provinces. The campaign will begin with hotspots with the highest number of reported cases in Kuwadzana and Glen View in Harare, Chiredzi in Masvingo province, and Buhera in Manicaland province. So far, the government has taken delivery of a consignment of 892,000 Oral Cholera Vaccines (OCV) from the Coordinating Group (ICG) and others are expected to be delivered within the next 10 days, Sunday Mail reported.
