Technology
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Huawei bridging the gap between education and ICT sector
By Lloyd Rabaya Tinayeshe Kariwo, a fourth-year student at the University of Zimbabwe (UZ) studying Electrical and Electronics Engineering, said the gap between education and industry can only be bridged through continued engagement between the two. This came to light today when global telecommunications giant Huawei held a career expo at the University of Zimbabwe…
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Government Implements ICT Interventions to Attain Digitalized Economy
By Joyce Mukucha Government is implementing Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) interventions aimed at achieving a digital economy as well as curbing challenges posed by the global Covid-19 pandemic. “The Minister of Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services, Honourable Jenfan Muswere, updated Cabinet on the ICT-based interventions, which Government through the Postal and Telecommunications…
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Cabinet Approves Government Enterprise Architecture Framework
By Joyce Mukucha Cabinet has considered and approved the Government Enterprise Architecture Framework Approach to the Modernisation and Improvement of the Government of Zimbabwe’s ICT Ecosystem. This was communicated by the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa during a post Cabinet briefing yesterday. The Framework, she said will play a crucial role…
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Smart Agriculture, Health Programmes adopted by Cabinet
By Joyce Mukucha Aiming to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural production as well as improving the resilience of farmers by providing imperative information through internet connectivity, Cabinet has adopted smart agriculture programme. Cabinet also adopted smart health programme which is aimed at avoiding hindrances when it comes to provision of much needed services in the sector. The…
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Cabinet Approves Hiking of ZBC Licence Fees
Television and radio licence fees are set to go up after Cabinet has received and approved a proposal by the Cabinet Committee on National Development Planning to effect the fees adjustment of the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation(ZBC) Listeners’ Licence Fees. Speaking during a post Cabinet briefing this Tuesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services,…
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Government Making Strides Towards Protecting Ozone Layer
By Joyce Mukucha recently in Darwendale The government of Zimbabwe through the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism, and Hospitality Industry’s Climate Change Management Department is making concerted efforts in phasing out hydrochlorofluorocarbons( HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) to eliminate the production and use of these ozone-depleting substances as encouraged by the Montreal Protocol, a government official…
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UNDP Donates ICT Equipment to Ministry of Agriculture
By Joyce Mukucha The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Zimbabwe Resilience Building Fund (ZRBF) programme has donated information and communication technology (ICT) equipment valued at USD154, 637 to the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development. The equipment which is aimed at supporting the capacity building of the Ministry to rollout…
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How to Create Your Own Website in Zimbabwe: The Step-by-Step Guide to Easy Setup
Getting online is easier than ever. There are now over 200 million active websites, and a lot of them were made by regular folk like you and me. Today anyone can make a website, regardless of technical skill level. We know it can seem like a daunting task, but there are tools available today that make…
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NetOne CEO Lazarus Muchenje Together With Other Top Executives Suspended
Following the resignation of three NetOne board members including Board Chairman Mr. James Mutizwa Netone Board has suspended its CEO Mr Lazarus Muchenje and Chief Finance Officer, as the current rigorous audits continue to haunt the state-owned enterprise. RELATED READING: NETONE BOARD CHAIRMAN RESIGNS INCLUDING TWO OTHER BOARD MEMBERS The board had instituted 6 separate audits…
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Google Rolling Out Incognito Mode for Google Maps on Android Devices
Earlier this month Google announced that its new Incognito feature for Maps had started to roll out, and now it should be here on your Android devices. Android Police points out a post on the support page from yesterday indicating that the rollout has begun in earnest. While it could take a few days to reach everyone (iOS support is still “coming…
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Sony’s PS4 is the Second Best-selling Console of all Time
Sony’s PlayStation 4 has become the second best-selling console of all time, surpassing the original PlayStation, which sold 102.5 million units. Sony said that it sold 2.8 million PS4s this quarter (including the PS4 Pro), on top of the 100 million mark it hit last quarter. That’s down considerably (1.1 million units) from last year, but was enough to…
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Facebook Pulls Russian Accounts Over Political Meddling in Africa
Facebook has once again caught Russians trying to meddle in the politics of other countries, this time in Africa. The social media giant has pulled a total of 66 Facebook accounts, 83 Pages, 11 Groups and 12 Instagram accounts for “coordinated inauthentic behavior” that used a mix of real, fake and hijacked accounts to shape political news and discussions…
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CEO Jack Dorsey Says Twitter Will Ban all Political Ads
CEO Jack Dorsey just announced, via tweet, that Twitter will be banning all political advertising — albeit with “a few exceptions” like voter registration. “We believe political message reach should be earned, not bought,” Dorsey said. While it’s not totally clear how broad those exceptions will be, it sounds like the ban will apply to…
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POTRAZ Approves Mobile Tariffs Hike
The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz) has approved an upward 95,39 percent voice, data and SMS tariff adjustment for both mobile and fixed network operators as previous tariffs were ravaged by inflationary pressures. According to Potraz, in a circular to operators, previous tariffs that were set in August 2019 have been rendered…
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Zulu King, Goodwill Zwelithini Set to Launch Bayede Mobile November 1
King Goodwill Zwelithini plans to launch a new mobile network in South Africa on 1 November – Bayede Mobile. Bayede is a Zulu salutation that translates to ‘hail the king’, and is already used in brands that have received the King Zwelithini’s seal of approval – such as Bayede! Wines. The company was born from a…
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James Makamba Wins Telecel Shareholding Battle
HIGH Court judge Justice Edith Mushore has ruled in favor of the once exiled businessman James Makamba in a long-drawn Telecel Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd share ownership battle with a war veterans organization, Magamba eChimurenga Housing Trust. In the initial application, Magamba eChimurenga Housing Trust was claiming 24% shareholding in Empowerment Corporation (Private) Limited, the indigenous…
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Aircraft Autonomously Lands Itself for The First Time
Many airliners can land automatically, but they don’t really land autonomously — the airport is guiding them in with a radio signal (the Instrument Landing System). And when many smaller airports don’t have this feature, it’s not even an option. Researchers at Technische Universität München might just make true autonomous landing a practical reality, though. They’ve successfully tested a…
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SoftBank to Invest $2.25 Billion in GM’s Self-Driving Unit — Cruise
Cruise, a U.S. self-driving vehicle company majority-owned by General Motors Co (GM), on Friday revealed that a U.S. national security panel approved a $2.25 billion investment in the firm by Japan’s SoftBank Corp. SoftBank has come under increasing U.S. scrutiny over its ties to Chinese firms in the face of an escalating trade and technology…
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Econet Media Put Kwesé Play Under Administration Over $130 Million Debt
Just months after Kwesé TV (satellite subscription service) shut down after a troublesome 18 months, last week on Wednesday, Kwesé Play users in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Uganda woke up only to find out that the streaming service was down with error notification that “Econet Nolonger Offers Kwesé Play. For More Information Contact Econet.” Kwesé Play, was launched last…
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Apple’s iPhone 11 Leaks & Rumours — Triple Cameras, Design, USB-C?
Apple’s next generation iPhones are still some way off, but that hasn’t stopped the online rumour mill from serving up some details about the iPhone 11, or so-called iPhone XI lineup. Though what’s certain is that Apple is expected to make a big change this year when it introduces a refreshed line-up of iPhones in…
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Sony’s Latest Noise-Cancelling Wireless WF-1000XM3 Earbuds Takes On Airpods
Its Game on! In the race for the best “true wireless” earbud, Sony has a new horse. Meet the Sony WF-1000XM3. (Not to be confused with the company’s over-ear flagship, the WH-1000XM3.) Back in 2017, Sony’s inaugural pair of true wireless earbuds, the WF-1000X, didn’t stand out among the competition when they hit the market. They were plagued by…
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BMW’s Next CEO Major Task is Reviving The Electric Car Initiative Amid Competition From EVs Like Tesla
In an update on Friday, BMW CEO Harald Krueger will be leaving his post as the German automaker’s CEO. The company announced that Krueger would not be seeking another term in his contract as CEO after it expires next year. A press release from BMW noted that the Supervisory Board will be discussing Krueger’s replacement during a meeting…
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Tesla YouTuber Bjørn Nyland Breaks 24-hour Electric Car Distance Record — 2,781km (1,728 miles) With Tesla Model 3
A Tesla Model 3 has travelled 2,781 km (1,728 miles) in 24 hours, breaking the 24 hour EV distance record. The new record was set by Bjørn Nyland and his co-pilots, on an autobahn in northern Germany. A common refrain about electric cars is that they’re fine for city driving but can’t do road trips.…
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ICTU Threatens to Take MultiChoice to Court Over 2000 Job Cuts
Last month, MultiChoice revealed its plans to retrench over 2,000 jobs in its call centres, now on our latest update, we can safely reveal that the Information Communication and Technology Union (ICTU) has announced its intention to challenge MultiChoice’s retrenchments in court. Related Reading: MultiChoice to Lay off 2,194 Staff in SA The union labeled…
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Vodacom Launches VodaPay Masterpass in South Africa
Vodacom has launched its new VodaPay Masterpass mobile app in South Africa, which uses Mastercard’s global digital payment service to facilitate tokenised bank card payments. The app is available on both the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, and is developed by the same company which created the Masterpass applications for South African banks. According to its…
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Orange SA CEO Stephane Richard Faces Fraud Verdict
Orange CEO Stephane Ricard has found himself in a bit of hot water with complicity in fraud and embezzlement charges dating back to his days in the French Ministry and this may result in Orange SA risking losing its CEO next week over decade-old allegations of fraud that have clouded his leadership of France’s biggest phone…
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Samsung Q2 Profit Halves After Global Industry Downturn and Trade Tensions
Samsung Electronics said on Friday that operating profit fell to 6.5 trillion won ($5.56 billion) in the quarter ended June, falling 56% year on year in the face of sinking DRAM prices. Samsung Electronics Co.’s quarterly profit more than halved after a global industry downturn and trade tensions hammered demand for its chips and high-end smartphones. The…
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YouTube Sports Streaming in South Africa With SuperSport
YouTube has clarified its recent statement that it would give South Africans access to live streaming of basketball, rugby, cricket, and football events in partnership with SuperSport. The company said in a press statement on 2 July that it had partnered with SuperSport and NBA Africa to bring fans live sporting events. It said the…
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BMW CEO Harald Krueger Steps Down Following Weakest Earnings in Years
BMW CEO Harald Krueger is stepping down after a four-year tenure in which the automaker lost its lead in luxury car sales and saw an early head start in electric vehicles evaporate. Friday’s news comes after BMW lost money on its automotive business in the first quarter of the year after the company was hit…
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Here’s Why WhatsApp Is Banning Some Users And How To Fix The Problem
Currently some WhatsApp users are finding themselves banned from the platform…but the question is WHY? Merely because Facebook-owned messaging service is fighting to ensure that people aren’t using unauthorised apps to access it. Some third-party apps like GB WhatsApp and WhatsApp Plus add extra features to the service, but they do so without any permission…
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Steam to Stop Supporting Ubuntu Linux Over 32-bit Compatibility
If you’re a Linux gamer who prefers Ubuntu, you might want to look for another distribution in the near future. Valve is dropping official support for Ubuntu in Steam as of the operating system’s upcoming 19.10 release, which will cut 32-bit x86 components. The Steam crew aims to “minimize breakage” for existing Ubuntu users, according to Valve’s Pierre-Loup Griffais,…
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US Cyberattack Reportedly Knocked Out Iran Missile Control Systems
The US launched a cyber-attack on Iranian weapons systems on Thursday as President Trump pulled out of air strikes on the country, US reports say. The cyber-attack disabled computer systems controlling rocket and missile launchers, the Washington Post said. It was in retaliation for the shooting down of a US drone as well as attacks…
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RTG on Positive Trajectory
By Tatenda Mujeyi The Rainbow Tourism Group, RTG, is in a positive trajectory following the payment of the first dividend and a positive first quarter performance, the Chief Executive Officer, Tendai Madziwanyika said at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Rainbow Towers Hotel yesterday. The group paid its first dividend of $1.000.000.00 in…
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POTRAZ Will Continue Reviewing Telecoms Tariffs
Zimbabwe’s telecoms regulator, the Postal and Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) says it will continue reviewing tariffs in line with cost movements and international best practices following concerns over the high cost of products in the country. Telecommunications service providers announced new tariffs effective April 1 in response to rising costs following the removal of…
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MTN Gets Approval to List on Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE)
Africa’s biggest mobile operator, MTN, yesterday received the green light to list on the Nigerian unit on the Nigerian Stock Exchange today to take the value of its biggest market to 1.8 trillion nairas (R71bn). The group lists at a hefty discount as a result of unresolved regulatory disputes with Nigerian authorities and unpaid taxes. …
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Amazon Program Offers Employees $10K to Start Delivery Service Businesses
Amazon employees are getting an opportunity to become business owners, as the online retail giant announced earlier today that it would be expanding its Delivery Service Partner program. Created last year to encourage drivers to start their own package delivery services, the program now includes additional incentives to make the transition easier. Dave Clark, senior vice president…
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Vaya to Introduce Electric Vehicles Move to solve Fuel Problem
Econet founder and Zimbabwean billionaire Mr Strive Masiyiwa says plans are under way for their Vaya logistics division to introduce electric vehicles so as to help ease the fuel problems facing the country. Vaya is a new innovative product under Econet subsidiary, Cassava Smartech Zimbabwe, which links customers in need of logistics services such as…
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Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf Gets $3.5 Million Bonus for Settling its Legal War With Apple
Qualcomm CEO Steve Mollenkopf
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Zoom’s CEO Eric Yuan Emigrated From China 22 Years Ago, Spoke Little English — And Now he’s Worth Almost $3 Billion
Not even Eric Yuan’s closest friends, oldest advisers and earliest investors thought Zoom needed to exist. It was 2011, and the market was littered with video conferencing systems from Google, Skype, GoToMeeting and Cisco, where Yuan had been leading WebEx’s engineering team. “He came to a market that everybody said was done,” said Dan Scheinman, Cisco’s…
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SA regtech Intergreatme Out to Raise R24m Through Crowdfunding Site Uprise.Africa
SOUTH AFRICA-Johannesburg based regtech Intergreatme is looking to raise a whopping R24-million through crowdfunding platformUprise.Africa in exchange for a 20% share in the startup. The startup — which was founded in 2016 by James Lawson, Dewald Thiart and Luke Warner (pictured above, from left to right) — has an identity management platform which provides users with control of their…
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Uganda’s SafeBoda Become German Investor Allianz X First African Investment
Allianz X, the digital investment unit of German financial services company Allianz Group has made its first investment in an African-based company — Ugandan ride-hailing startup SafeBoda. Allianz X said in a statement on Tuesday (7 May) that it co-invested in a Series-B round with Go-Ventures, the venture fund of Indonesian logistics startup Go-Jek. SafeBoda was founded in 2015…
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Here Are The Eight Startups Chosen for The Nairobi Finals of The 2019 ASME Innovation Showcase
Eight startups from across the continent will convene tomorrow (9 May) in Nairobi to compete in the regional finals of the 2019 American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) Innovation Showcase (ISHOW). ASME ISHOW is a global competition for hardware-led social innovation. At the regional finals, three grand prize winners will be selected for a share of $30…
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Zimbabwe’s Fintech Startup Payitup Nets $13m from UK’s Thawer Fund Management
Harare-based payments startup Payitup has secured a $13-million Series-A investment from London’s Thawer Fund Management, CEO Aretha Gonyora has revealed. The funding was secured at a $20-million valuation. Payitup currently helps consumers make payments for MultiChoice’s DStv service. The startup plans to use the investment to further develop its system. The funding will also help it to form…
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Community Radio Stations a Civil Protection Agent
By Tatenda Mujeyi Community radio stations are an imperative civil protection agent in curbing human and natural disasters that ravage societies. Presenting a paper on the ‘role of Community Radio Stations, CSRs, in Partnership with Zachras and Amnesty International, VOP Director John Masuku, said. Community Radio Stations are contestedly defined as community derived Broadcasting entities…