Staff Writer The water crisis in Zimbabwe’s second-largest city, Bulawayo, has deepened significantly following the decommissioning of the Upper Ncema Dam last week. The dam, which had critically declined to 2.08%, has reached a dead water state, marking the second dam decommissioned in the city. In November 2023, the Umzingwane Dam was also decommissioned due…
Staff Writer Zimplow says the El Niño-induced drought had a significant impact on its agriculture cluster business units during the half year to June 30, 2024, contributing 80.7% to the group’s loss position. The diversified equipment maker and distributor recorded a loss before tax of US$1.1 million in the first half of 2024 compared to…
Staff Writer Dairibord Holdings is optimistic that its expanded raw milk supply will mitigate some of the negative effects of the El Niño-induced drought. The leading dairy processor said the drought has severely impacted agricultural yields, raising concerns about economic growth and food price inflation. The adverse weather conditions have also curtailed raw milk production,…
UNICEF is urgently appealing for US$26.8 million in 2024 to address the critical humanitarian needs of two million people, including 978,611 children, in Zimbabwe. The country is grappling with a multitude of challenges, including an El Niño-induced drought, a protracted cholera outbreak, a polio outbreak, an economic crisis, and the looming threat of a monkeypox…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe is prioritising climate-proofing interventions for the 2024/25 season to enhance food security and reduce reliance on imports. Under the Crops, Horticulture, Fisheries and Livestock Summer Plan for 2024/25, the Ministry of Agriculture aims to increase crop production and productivity, promote sustainable agriculture, and strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change. The plan…
Staff Writer Climate experts from across the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region have convened in Zimbabwe to enhance their ability to predict weather patterns and mitigate the impacts of climate change. The Climate Experts Meeting, which will prepare the region for the 2024/25 rainfall season, aims to strengthen collaboration, knowledge sharing, and capacity building…
Staff Writer Hippo Valley Estates says the sugar industry has been unaffected by the El Niño-induced drought due to adequate irrigation water supplies. The sugar producer said while the country experienced adverse weather conditions, the industry as a whole was not significantly impacted due to sufficient water reserves in dams. The Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed company,…
Staff Writer At least 67.7 million people in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region have been negatively impacted by the effects of an El Niño-induced drought, the regional bloc’s Executive Secretary Elias Magosi has revealed. Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 44th SADC Summit of heads of state and government, Magosi said the…
Staff Writer Zimbabwe will be at the center of regional climate discussions as it prepares to host the 29th Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum from August 18 to 30, 2024. The announcement was made following a cabinet meeting, with the government highlighting the event’s significance in addressing the region’s climate challenges. The forum will…
Staff Writer Treasury says food imports surged by 58.1% to US$433.5 million during the first half of 2024 compared to US$274.5 million recorded in the same period in 2023, driven by the El Niño-induced drought. The drought affected the 2022/23 agricultural season. According to the Ministry of Finance’s Mid-Term Budget and Economic Review, maize imports…
