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<title>General Archives | 263Chat, Convening dialogue in Zimbabwe</title>
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<title>General Archives | 263Chat, Convening dialogue in Zimbabwe</title>
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<title>Prophet T Freddy releases ‘Kubata Kwashe’ featuring Psalmist Lamondy Dube</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/prophet-t-freddy-releases-kubata-kwashe-featuring-psalmist-lamondy-dube/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Lovejoy Mutongwiza]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2026 09:32:37 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Prophet T Freddy]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=113546</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/prophet-t-freddy-releases-kubata-kwashe-featuring-psalmist-lamondy-dube/">Prophet T Freddy releases ‘Kubata Kwashe’ featuring Psalmist Lamondy Dube</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p data-pm-slice="1 1 []">Goodness and Mercy Ministries leader Prophet T Freddy has released a new song, <em>Kubata Kwashe</em>, featuring Psalmist Lamondy Dube.</p>
<p>The prophet showcases his lyrical ability on the track, complementing Dube’s musical style. The song praises God’s work in people’s lives and carries a message of hope for those facing difficult circumstances.</p>
<p>Part of the lyrics reads: “Dzakasvika nyasha kuno kwamaikanda mapfumo, vamwe vaikanda matombo. Ishe ndokundipa gombo; zvimwe hazvidi godo, kana kutsika zondo. Ini handichazi wepondo… Ishe vandisimudza nerudo.”</p>
<p>The song is already gaining attention on social media, where listeners have praised Prophet T Freddy’s ability to create memorable melodies.</p>
<p>He said music is an important part of the ministry’s outreach.</p>
<p>“Our mission is to spread the word of God to people through preaching, prophesying and music. I thank God that people have received that,” he said.</p>
<p>Prophet T Freddy added that God’s word should reach people through different platforms.</p>
<p>He has collaborated with several musicians in advancing the gospel through music. He is also known for his prophecies, songs and philanthropic work in various communities.</p>
<p>The prophet has constructed a state-of-the-art church at the corner of Highland and Mushayabande roads, which has been dubbed “Miami Haven” because of its appearance.</p>
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</div><p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/prophet-t-freddy-releases-kubata-kwashe-featuring-psalmist-lamondy-dube/">Prophet T Freddy releases ‘Kubata Kwashe’ featuring Psalmist Lamondy Dube</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Correction: Clarification on Identity in US$41K Solar Fraud Allegations</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/correction-clarification-on-identity-in-us41k-solar-fraud-allegations/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff Reporter]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 05 Jun 2025 09:55:09 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[Zimbabwe]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=105656</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>263Chat wishes to correct a factual inaccuracy in our recent article titled “Mashwede’s Son Implicated in US$41K Solar Fraud Scandal.” Contrary to the claims made in the article, Tendai Mashamhanda, the individual accused in the matter, is not the son of Alex Mashamhanda, the founder […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/correction-clarification-on-identity-in-us41k-solar-fraud-allegations/">Correction: Clarification on Identity in US$41K Solar Fraud Allegations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
]]></description>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">263Chat wishes to correct a factual inaccuracy in our recent article titled <em>“Mashwede’s Son Implicated in US$41K Solar Fraud Scandal.”</em></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Contrary to the claims made in the article, Tendai Mashamhanda, the individual accused in the matter, is <strong>not</strong> the son of Alex Mashamhanda, the founder of Mashwede Holdings. The accused is, in fact, the son of Mashwede’s younger brother.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It is important to note that the name “Tendai” is common within the Mashamhanda family, and this appears to have led to confusion in identifying the accused. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Furthermore, the accused does <strong>not</strong> work for Mashwede Holdings in any capacity.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We regret the error and any inconvenience or reputational harm it may have caused to Alex Mashamhanda, his son, and Mashwede Holdings.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/correction-clarification-on-identity-in-us41k-solar-fraud-allegations/">Correction: Clarification on Identity in US$41K Solar Fraud Allegations</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Flickers of Unyielding Hope: The Resilient Spirit of Palestinian Resistance</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/flickers-of-unyielding-hope-the-resilient-spirit-of-palestinian-resistance/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 31 Aug 2023 08:07:30 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=100861</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>By Tendai Makaripe In the dimly lit cell of Israel’s Ramle prison, the passage of time was marked by the gnawing emptiness of hunger. Khader Adnan, a Palestinian activist who had already endured 87 days of a hunger strike, lay on the cold floor, his […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/flickers-of-unyielding-hope-the-resilient-spirit-of-palestinian-resistance/">Flickers of Unyielding Hope: The Resilient Spirit of Palestinian Resistance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">By <strong>Tendai Makaripe</strong></p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the dimly lit cell of Israel’s Ramle prison, the passage of time was marked by the gnawing emptiness of hunger.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Khader Adnan, a Palestinian activist who had already endured 87 days of a hunger strike, lay on the cold floor, his frail frame shivering from both the hunger that now consumed him and the determination that had ignited his resistance.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In those final hours, as his body succumbed to the deadly cost of defying Israel’s apartheid and military justice system, the walls seemed to echo with a powerful, unquenchable spirit.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As the world remembers his life and the battles he fought, it’s impossible not to conjure vivid images of his final moments – an imaginary reconstruction of what might have transpired as his hunger strike reached its tragic culmination.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img data-recalc-dims="1" fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="770" height="513" src="https://i0.wp.com/www.263chat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/khader-Adnan.webp?resize=770%2C513&ssl=1" alt="" class="wp-image-100862" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/www.263chat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/khader-Adnan.webp?w=770&ssl=1 770w, https://i0.wp.com/www.263chat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/khader-Adnan.webp?resize=300%2C200&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/www.263chat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/khader-Adnan.webp?resize=768%2C512&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/www.263chat.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/khader-Adnan.webp?resize=128%2C86&ssl=1 128w" sizes="(max-width: 770px) 100vw, 770px" /></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In those haunting hours, Adnan’s trembling body bore witness to a resilience that defied comprehension. The hunger, an insatiable force that gripped his very being, had become a testament to his unwavering commitment to the cause he held dear.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Each tremor was a silent proclamation that even in the face of impending mortality, the spirit of resistance burned brighter than ever.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Adnan’s fading breaths were a reflection of a struggle that extended far beyond his frail frame.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The internal organs that now threatened to give way were metaphors for a larger struggle – the collapse of a system of oppression and the rallying cry for justice.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While his body weakened, his will remained unbroken, echoing the resolve of countless Palestinians who have endured similar tribulations.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> Adnan’s tragic passing on May 2 2023 was a stark reminder of the agonizing cost that Palestinians pay for their unwavering pursuit of justice.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">His hunger strike was a self-imposed sacrifice, a testament to the lengths he and others were willing to go in order to challenge the systematic arbitrary detention of Palestinians and demand the rights that Israel had long denied them.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The 44-year-old father of nine from the city of Jenin in the occupied West Bank, had a number of charges against him, including “involvement in terrorist activities”, “incitement”, and “belonging to a terrorist group.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In previous instances, he had employed similar hunger strikes as a means to protest against his arbitrary arrests and detainment by the Israeli authorities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Since 2004, he had engaged in five hunger strikes, including a 67-day strike in 2021 and a 55-day strike in 2015.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He experienced arrest on 12 occasions and spent approximately eight years incarcerated, with administrative detention being the predominant reason for his imprisonment.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Khader Adnan is the first Palestinian detainee to die as a result of a hunger strike since 1992. When his life was at risk, Israeli authorities refused him access to the specialized care he needed in a civilian hospital and instead left him to die alone in his cell.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The appalling treatment of such a high-profile detainee is the latest alarming sign that Israeli authorities are growing increasingly brazen in their contempt for Palestinians’ rights and lives, and increasingly reckless in their cruelty towards Palestinians,” said Amnesty International’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa Heba Morayef.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The significance of his employment of hunger strikes must not be overlooked, as it underscores a vital tactic wielded by altruistic Palestinians in their struggle for the liberation of their people.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This approach demonstrates an unwavering commitment, where even the individual undertaking the hunger strike might forego the opportunity to relish the eventual fruits of freedom.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A hunger strike is a form of protest that involves refraining from eating as a political act of remonstration.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Distinct from conventional modern labour strikes in which laborers refrain from work by turning their labour into a means of struggle—a weapon—hunger strikes entail the deployment of the strikers’ bodies as weapons.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Hunger strikes thus risk the decay of the body, even its death. In this way, they politicize the body. The practice of hunger striking is not uniform across time and space,” said media, conflict resolution, and transformation researcher Lazarus Sauti.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“It derives its particular meaning from the historical, material context in which it is situated. Writing about the praxis of the Death Fast Struggle waged between 2000 and 2007 by Turkish leftist political prisoners who protested against the introduction of high-security prisons, Banu Bargu theorizes the hunger strike as a means of making life itself into a weapon.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The hunger strike, a facet of the Palestinian liberation effort, offers a potential avenue for transformative politics both inside and outside colonial prisons.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It seeks to challenge current prison oppressions while nurturing a revolutionary identity tied to ongoing struggle, with aspirations for a liberated Palestinian tomorrow.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Over the past decade, there has been an emergence of what are known as “individual” hunger strikes (idrab fardi).</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These have arisen due to the decline of the Palestinian national liberation movement in the post-Oslo period.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On July 27, 2020, Maher al-Akhras, a Palestinian political prisoner, received an administrative detention order and promptly initiated an indefinite hunger strike to demand his release.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">At the time, al-Akhras was 49 years old, a father of six, and hailed from Silet al-Dhahir, located to the south of the Palestinian city of Jenin.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Having been imprisoned multiple times in Israeli colonial prisons, his most recent arrest prompted his fifth detention and third instance of being held under an administrative detention order.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Throughout his 103-day hunger strike, al-Akhras grappled with recurring seizures, intense headaches, compromised vision, and hearing, as well as excruciating pain across his body, particularly in his chest region.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">These conditions posed severe and immediate threats to his life.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Insisting on continuing his hunger strike, he affirmed his position to himself, his family, community, and people, as well as to all free people around the world: “My aim is freedom, either freedom or martyrdom; both options constitute victory for my people and prisoners.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">After a serious deterioration in his condition, al-Akhras was hospitalized in an Israeli hospital on September 9, 2020, but refused to cooperate with the doctors.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On October 25, the Israeli court froze his administrative detention without releasing him.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He persisted in his hunger strike until November 6, 2020, when he was released after an Israeli court ruling.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Palestinians celebrated his freedom as their own; his freedom was perceived as the possibility and opening of their own freedom.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“When taken to the extreme, the hunger strike is a life-and-death struggle, a fight for freedom driven by the forced choice between “martyrdom or freedom.” The hunger strike that risks a life to obtain freedom resonates with the fight to the death that Hegel delineated in his account of the master-slave dialectic, which has instigated such rich and diverse intellectual discourses on oppressive encounters,” said Assistant professor of anthropology in the Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Institute of Women’s Studies at Palestine’s Birzeit University, Lena Meari.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Israeli government is ill-treating Palestinian prisoners and making life miserable for those outside penitentiaries.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Those who attend protests risk being arrested, seriously injured, or unlawfully killed.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Human rights defenders are placed under travel bans, arrested, or forcibly transferred or deported; the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is outlawed; human rights organizations are banned; and hunger strikers risk their lives.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Innocent lives have been lost in Gaza, Jenin, and Nablus among other areas.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The bloodletting scenes of Israeli Jewish terrorist militias in Huwara destroying the life of every discoverable Palestinian and burning homes, cars, trees, and animals to ash and rubble, are sickening and unprecedented in scale and ferocity,” said the Palestinian ambassador to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassri.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Israeli Jewish terrorist groups chanted “death to Arabs” and danced on the rubble of burned homes and the bodies of dead and injured Palestinians, all while protected by Israeli occupying forces,” he said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">However, the resilient and selfless spirit of some Palestinians like Adnan continues to flicker in the darkness.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Our fight is continuing and the enemy will realize once again that its crimes will not pass without a response. Resistance will continue by all might and determination,” said the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) in a statement following the death of Adnan.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Nonetheless, the Palestinian fighting spirit is apparent.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Hunger strikes serve as a complex tool in the battle against Israel’s Palestinian territory occupation.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">While they may not always yield immediate policy shifts, they effectively raise the voices of the oppressed and spotlight the ongoing struggle,” said analyst Jethro Makumbe.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The ethical questions they provoke stimulate discussions on governmental duties, the efficacy of nonviolent protest, and the critical need to address the core problems of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. As long as the occupation endures, hunger strikes are likely to persist as a powerful instrument in the broader fight for justice and human rights.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/flickers-of-unyielding-hope-the-resilient-spirit-of-palestinian-resistance/">Flickers of Unyielding Hope: The Resilient Spirit of Palestinian Resistance</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Food Support For Zimbabwe’s Urban Communities</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/food-support-for-zimbabwes-urban-communities/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jul 2023 12:03:41 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=100071</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>HARARE –The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$2 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support more than 2,000 vulnerable families in three urban areas over the next year. Under the initiative WFP will create assets and […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/food-support-for-zimbabwes-urban-communities/">Food Support For Zimbabwe’s Urban Communities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">HARARE –The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) welcomes a US$2 million contribution from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to support more than 2,000 vulnerable families in three urban areas over the next year.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Under the initiative WFP will create assets and develop transformative skills that will improve vulnerable families and communities’ access to livelihood opportunities. Targeted communities will benefit from community-shared assets such as greenhouses, and income-generation activities. As part of the programme, WFP will provide internal savings and lending (ISAL) training to boost financial literacy among participants while the youth will undertake digital and vocational skills development training</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The Urban Resilience program will improve the ability of these urban households to meet their basic food and nutrition needs while reducing the negative coping strategies, and need for urgent assistance,” said USAID Acting Mission Director Priscilla Sampil. “This is our third round of USAID funding to the World Food Programme’s Urban Resilience Program, demonstrating the U.S. government’s commitment to tackling food insecurity and poverty in urban areas.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Approximately 1.5 million people living in urban areas are food insecure according to latest government assessments. People who live in urban areas have fewer opportunities for subsistence livelihoods compared to rural areas. As a result, most urban residents live hand-to-mouth, working multiple jobs in the informal sector. Unless assistance is provided urgently, people will continue to face constraints due to economic challenges as a result of inflation and rising food costs.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Zimbabwean cities are growing and face the challenge to provide decent livelihoods for their dwellers” said Francesca Erdelmann, WFP Representative and Country Director. “With USAID’s support we will continue supporting income generating activities, while working with national and local institutions to advance policies and social protection for the urban poor”, she added.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, the United States has invested nearly $4.5 billion in Zimbabwe through initiatives to enhance food security, support economic resilience, improve health outcomes, and promote democratic governance. USAID’s latest contribution to WFP’s food and resilience activities in Zimbabwe brings the total contributions from the United States to over US$8.9 million this year.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/food-support-for-zimbabwes-urban-communities/">Food Support For Zimbabwe’s Urban Communities</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Hardworking Civil Servants Honored</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/hardworking-civil-servants-honored/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff Reporter]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Fri, 24 Feb 2023 08:26:03 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=96879</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>A local non-governmental organisation, Accountability Lab Zimbabwe (ALZ) will today honor hardworking civil servants going beyond the call of duty to serve their communities. Through their Intergrity Icons campaign, ALZ will “name and fame” those working in the public service but exhibiting intergrity and professionalism […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hardworking-civil-servants-honored/">Hardworking Civil Servants Honored</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A local non-governmental organisation, Accountability Lab Zimbabwe (ALZ) will today honor hardworking civil servants going beyond the call of duty to serve their communities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Through their Intergrity Icons campaign, ALZ will “name and fame” those working in the public service but exhibiting intergrity and professionalism to the satisfaction of their communities.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“It is a way to create meaningful conversations about what it means to be a public servant and shines a light on the role of ordinary people in strengthening institutions in a society such as ours. It also encourages us to think about what is needed to build an open, inclusive and accountable societies,” reads a statement from ALZ.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to ALZ, five civil servants will be named intergrity icons of the year 2022 with one being selected for the people’s choice award.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zimbabwe is currently battling high corruption with most public service facilities such as passport office, vehicle inspection department, central vehicle registry and the police being among the most corrupt.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The ALZ Intergrity Icon campaign therefore seeks to infuse a culture of intergrity among civil servants to promote transparency and accountability in Zimbabwe.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hardworking-civil-servants-honored/">Hardworking Civil Servants Honored</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Philanthropist Feeds 1000 Families</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/philanthropist-feeds-1000-families/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 23 Feb 2023 07:59:23 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=96854</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Clayton Musasiwa through his company Kwandisa Group has been silently feeding more than 1000 families as party of Social Corporate Responsibility. The information which has been kept under wraps for decades is contained in the company’s 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report. “For […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/philanthropist-feeds-1000-families/">Philanthropist Feeds 1000 Families</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Local entrepreneur and philanthropist Clayton Musasiwa through his company Kwandisa Group has been silently feeding more than 1000 families as party of Social Corporate Responsibility.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The information which has been kept under wraps for decades is contained in the company’s 2022 Corporate Sustainability Report.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“For more than two decades, Kwandisa Group has been unwavering in our commitment to serve disadvantaged households in Mash Central and help under privilege families from the Bindura area by providing them with millie meal from its subsidiary Adult Milling Company. This programme feeds over a 1000 families per annum,” reads the report.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">This comes at a time when social welfare minister Paul Mavhima has revealed that about 3.7 million Zimbabweans are facing acute shortage of food.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“3.7 million people have registered with the government for basic food assistance,” he said.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Musasiwa, a shrewd businessman who broke the jinx of poverty through hard work and perseverance believe in putting the vulnerable in the forefront of fighting poverty.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Kwandisa Group has put measures to measures in place for the successful implement.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“Led by our group MD Mr Clayton Musasiwa, Kwandisa believes success will be amplified as we adopt and implement policies that prioritise the well-being of people in our community, our employees and their families. We also believe that sound, sustainable business practices are crucial to building trust and enhancing our reputation,” the report added.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We intend for our CSR to provide our stakeholders with valuable information in a format that is easy to understand. Last year, we introduced an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Snapshot that shows various ESG metrics over the most recent three-year period, as well as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) disclosure metrics that we believe are most relevant to our industry and business model.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Investors indicated that they found the additional information to be useful, and we have updated the appendices to reflect the most recent data.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“As you will see in this report, since last year we’ve made positive changes to reflect our dedication to improving the health and overall well-being of our employees, and we enhanced several initiatives to underscore our commitment to ESG issues.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“I want to thank our stakeholders for your continued interest in Kwandisa Group and for supporting our efforts as we endeavour to do what’s right for our stakeholders, our clients, our employees, and the thousands of communities in which we live and work,” added the report.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Kwandisa is a family owned business that started in the backyard in the 90s and has grown to become a diversified group with interests in various sectors including agriculture, retail and manufacturing.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/philanthropist-feeds-1000-families/">Philanthropist Feeds 1000 Families</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Zimbabwe To Host 6th Transform Africa Summit</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/zimbabwe-to-host-6th-transform-africa-summit/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Staff Reporter]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Tue, 14 Feb 2023 10:57:30 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=96595</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>KIGALI, Rwanda, February 14, 2023/ — Zimbabwe will be hosting the 6th Transform Africa Summit (TAS) (https://TransformAfricaSummit.org) from the 26th to the 28th of April 2023 at the Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe was selected against bids from the other 36 members of the Smart Africa Alliance. […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/zimbabwe-to-host-6th-transform-africa-summit/">Zimbabwe To Host 6th Transform Africa Summit</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">KIGALI, Rwanda, February 14, 2023/ — Zimbabwe will be hosting the 6th Transform Africa Summit (TAS) (<a href="http://r.news.africa-newsroom.com/tr/cl/NDiAklFo1Gqtjdswnu_LwJsCmj2IWmgJRAp-APScEuXGJYhEEs0ry8u3Ce6KccyK4CKvKblEqT5eti_d_1hd_YWDB98a2yjneRCuuo4GecIHJ4_PzN-RHvCa2g11ZdzDmeEoULaLMHAemJ92F8mtpWAIsOa7UIjb-r0QqoqKF22o8nGbDV8v2YyjopRg3FSbheag_ctyZGTHr2PpbLGthAyv_dKXVnRAiMZeNHcT-jxbERgO">https://TransformAfricaSummit.org</a>) from the 26th to the 28th of April 2023 at the Victoria Falls. Zimbabwe was selected against bids from the other 36 members of the Smart Africa Alliance.<br><br>The Transform Africa Summit is the leading Africa tech and digital event organised by Smart Africa which gathers over 5000 delegates from more than 100 countries to engage on the digital transformation of the continent across multiple sectors. Heads of States, who constitute Smart Africa’s board, Ministers, International Industry leaders and key players in the ICT will attend the 3 day event aimed at making core decisions for Africa’s socio economic development through ICT. Connect, Transform and Innovate is the theme of this edition where the focus will be on regulation and policy, digital infrastructure financing, capacity building and skills development and digital continental trade among other key aspects.<br><br>“The Transform Africa Summit will be held outside Rwanda for the first time and we are pleased to have our active member country Zimbabwe hosting us in the city of Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. The TAS 2023 will once again underline the commitment of African Governments towards accelerating Africa’s digital agenda. We are welcoming all digital players from public and private sector on the continent in April in Zimbabwe. 2023 is a landmark year for Africa’s digital transformation”, said Mr. Lacina Koné, Director General and CEO of Smart Africa.<br><br>The summit will be open for public participation in exhibitions and multiple discussion panels and roundtables. His Excellency President, Emmerson Mngangagwa, President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, will open the summit and welcome other Heads of State including H.E. President Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda the Chairman of the Smart Africa Board who will convene a Board meeting at the summit.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/zimbabwe-to-host-6th-transform-africa-summit/">Zimbabwe To Host 6th Transform Africa Summit</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Empowerment Program Keeps Youths Free From Drugs</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/empowerment-program-keeps-youths-free-from-drugs/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Sun, 15 Jan 2023 23:01:45 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=95787</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Sunningdale Councillor Hamilton Madzingira has come up with programmes that support young people to enrol for short courses as part of efforts to empower them and curb substance abuse. By Gift Washaya The program has seen over 200 students graduating with certificates in various courses […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/empowerment-program-keeps-youths-free-from-drugs/">Empowerment Program Keeps Youths Free From Drugs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sunningdale Councillor Hamilton Madzingira has come up with programmes that support young people to enrol for short courses as part of efforts to empower them and curb substance abuse.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">By Gift Washaya</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The program has seen over 200 students graduating with certificates in various courses which include welding, baking, carpentry and catering for free.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Cllr Madzingira said the idea came after realising youths are abusing drugs to escape from the effects of unemployment and idleness.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The youths are suffering from the effects of drug abuse,” said Madzingira. “This is part of the anti-drug campaign.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">He said the idea was borrowed from vocational centres.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We just brought Chinembiri Vocational Centre here to empower them with a critical skill for survival,” said Madzingira. “What we want is a positive result from our youths.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Despite the challenges, Cllr Madzingira said he is determined to see all youths undertaking different projects so that they can earn a living.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“The major challenge we are facing is the shortage of materials in welding, said Madzingira. “However, we are fighting hard to solve the problem.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The project is being implemented in collaboration with community primary schools that assist short-course students in their practical learning.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We also partnered with Sunningdale 1 and Sunningdale 2 Primary Schools which are supporting students in practical learning, he said. “They voluntarily weld broken chairs and tables at these primary schools to enhance their practical skills.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Students said they are happy to be part of the program and they implored the Councillor to continue to do the good work.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“l thank Cllr Madzingira for bringing this program to us,” said one of the students Kudzaishe Mutsaru. “He is empowering the community and may he continue to push for more.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">They also said the programs are going to empower students with entrepreneurial skills.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“This knowledge is going to enable us to start our own businesses, said one of the students. “If it wasn’t for Mr Madzingira our lives would have been a disaster.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"> Sunningdale is one of the high-density suburbs which is affected by the problem of drug abuse. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/empowerment-program-keeps-youths-free-from-drugs/">Empowerment Program Keeps Youths Free From Drugs</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>Hindus Plan Grand Diwali Festivities in Harare With fireworks </title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/hindus-plan-grand-diwali-festivities-in-harare-with-fireworks/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 13 Oct 2022 13:30:04 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=92916</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Hindu Society Harare (HSH) is presenting a four-hours long Diwali Mela (fair) on October 22 in Harare celebrating Diwali, the most popular festival of Hindus. It will include fireworks, entertainment and food-stalls.  Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended HSH […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hindus-plan-grand-diwali-festivities-in-harare-with-fireworks/">Hindus Plan Grand Diwali Festivities in Harare With fireworks </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hindu Society Harare (HSH) is presenting a four-hours long Diwali Mela (fair) on October 22 in Harare celebrating Diwali, the most popular festival of Hindus. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It will include fireworks, entertainment and food-stalls. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended HSH for organizing Diwali festivities and for its efforts to keep the Hindu spirituality, concepts and traditions alive and attempting to pass these on to the coming generations amidst so many distractions in the consumerist society. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, wished “joy and light in every heart” to all Zimbabwe Hindus on Diwali, which falls on October 24 this year. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Sending Diwali greetings to 1.2 billion Hindus of the world, Rajan Zed urged them each to take a vow of “selfless service” on this sacred occasion. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zed quoted ancient Hindu scripture <em>Bhagavad-</em>Gita: Selfish action imprisons the world. Act selflessly, without any consideration of personal gain…by dedication to selfless work one achieves the highest goal. Do your work with the well-being of others always in focus…Ignorant work for their own profit, enlightened act for the welfare of the world without any attachment. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Rajan Zed also suggested Hindus to focus on inner search, stay pure, explore the vast wisdom of scriptures, make spirituality more attractive to youth and children, stay away from greed, and always keep God in your life. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Hindus are God’s people, full of courage and generosity, Zed added. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In Harare, Cameron Street Shree Omkar Mandir celebrated 90<sup>th</sup> anniversary in February 2019, while 25<sup>th</sup> anniversary of Ridgeview Shree Omkar Mandir was observed in 2017. HSH “intends to publish a written record” of the hundred years of “community’s existence in Zimbabwe”. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the pre-COVID-19 times, HSH reportedly had been conducting various bhajan events, twice-weekly yoga classes, Hindi lessons, cultural/social activities; organized daily aarti at both the temples with Havan on Sundays; and offered funeral assistance for bereaved families; etc.; besides running Mahila Mandal, Shishu Mandal and Yuvak Mandal. HSH has also been running various schools—Westridge High School, Westridge Primary School, Gujarati School. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Diwali, the festival of lights, aims at dispelling the darkness and lighting up the lives and symbolizes the victory of good over evil. Hinduism is the oldest and third largest religion of the world and moksh (liberation) is its ultimate goal. </p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hindus-plan-grand-diwali-festivities-in-harare-with-fireworks/">Hindus Plan Grand Diwali Festivities in Harare With fireworks </a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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<title>The Hub Unconference To Run On The Sidelines Of Shoko Festival</title>
<link>https://www.263chat.com/hub-unconference-to-run-on-the-sidelines-of-shoko-festival/</link>
<dc:creator><![CDATA[Own Correspondent]]></dc:creator>
<pubDate>Thu, 08 Sep 2022 12:59:08 +0000</pubDate>
<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.263chat.com/?p=91574</guid>
<description><![CDATA[<p>Zimbabwe’s biggest annual digital media conference, the Hub Unconference, promises to be exciting as it assumes a hybrid format and welcomes guest speakers from across the African continent. The event is set to run from the 27th of September to the 1st of October at […]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hub-unconference-to-run-on-the-sidelines-of-shoko-festival/">The Hub Unconference To Run On The Sidelines Of Shoko Festival</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
]]></description>
<content:encoded><![CDATA[
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Zimbabwe’s biggest annual digital media conference, the Hub Unconference, promises to be exciting as it assumes a hybrid format and welcomes guest speakers from across the African continent. The event is set to run from the 27<sup>th</sup> of September to the 1<sup>st</sup> of October at Moto Republik on the sidelines of Shoko Festival in Harare.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The events lined up for the 8<sup>th</sup> edition of the Hub Unconference include the Annual State of the Internet Address, the Women Create Worlds Summit, the Mayors’ Forum and the Africa Satire Convention. The most anticipated event is the inaugural Open Data Africa Summit which will feature Africa’s leading open data initiatives from Uganda, Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa, Zambia, Somalia and Zimbabwe converging in one space. The Open Data Africa Summit will bring together leading activists, bloggers and developers working in the open data field on the continent and will include cutting edge talks by Nigeria’s Busayo Morakinyo from the award-winning Connected Development (CODE), Caroline Gaita from Kenya’s largest online monitor of Parliament, Mzalendo, and Richard Gevers from South Africa’s Open Cities Lab. Other speakers include Richard Mulonga from Bloggers of Zambia, Reagan Wamajji from Parliament Watch Uganda and Somalian journalist Hassan Ali Osmani.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">“We’re thrilled to be able to have the Hub Unconference happen physically this year after two years of doing it virtually due to the pandemic and global lockdowns,” says Shoko Festival Director Samm Farai Monro AKA Comrade Fatso. “We have amazing speakers from across the continent and some really inspirational ideas that are gonna be presented on everything from open data to climate justice. So, swing through The Hub Uncoference and get inspired!”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>Women Create Worlds Summit </strong>will focus on breaking the bias and will look at the representation of women in society. This year’s conference will focus on The State of Girls Education with a talk from Anoziva Marindire from African Union, Centre for Girls as well as a talk by ZiFM’s Nonkululeko Dube popularly known as Amard.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">As Zimbabwe heads towards the 2023 elections, the Hub Unconference also has a panel discussion focusing on young people taking part in democratic processes drawing lessons from other African countries such as Kenya, Zambia and Malawi that recently had élections.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><strong>The Mayors Forum</strong> will delve into challenges facing local authorities and service delivery with a critical conversation with the Mayor of Harare and the Mayor of Lusaka, Zambia.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <strong>Africa Satire Convention</strong> will look at the power of satire in influencing the youth to register to vote and will feature political comedians from Zimbabwe, Zambia and South Africa. The <strong>State of the Internet</strong> <strong>Address </strong>by MISA Zimbabwe’s Nompilo Simanjewill examine the state of the internet in the country focusing on key areas such as accessibility, affordability and laws that impinge on freedom of expression.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">On the sidelines, the Hub will also host diverse sessions including journalism master classes, tech workshops, a gaming booth, the Green Cities Expo and much more. </p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Hub Unconference at Shoko Festival is Zimbabwe’s leading annual conference on digital media, innovation and new ideas which is hosted concurrently with Shoko Festival. This year the festival will be running under the theme #PARTYcipate – creatively encouraging young people to engage in the big issues that will define their futures.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">In the past the Hub Unconference has hosted prominent local and international speakers such as Alice McCool (The Guardian UK), Robyn Kriel (CNN), Raheela Mohammed (Al Jazeera) and Lindiwe Zulu from the ANC among many others. The Hub Unconferene & Shoko Festival are produced by Magamba Network, Africa’s trailblazing creative and digital media organisation.</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.263chat.com/hub-unconference-to-run-on-the-sidelines-of-shoko-festival/">The Hub Unconference To Run On The Sidelines Of Shoko Festival</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.263chat.com">263Chat</a>.</p>
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