Author: Alvine Chaparadza
EcoCash Says Its App Is Not Yet Stable, So Use *151# At The Moment
Even though yesterday EcoCash sent out messages to its subscribers telling them that service has been fully restored, it looks like things are not flowing quite well in the entire EcoCash ecosystem. The largest mobile money platform has sent messages to its customers telling them that its EcoCash app is not yet up to scratch […]
Applications For Techwomen 2020 Are Now Open
Ladies its time to sharpen your Science, Sechnology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) skills with the TechWomen program. Yes, you can now apply for for TechWomen 2020 program. TechWomen is a program that brings women leaders in STEM fields from around the world “with their professional counterparts in the United States for a mentorship and exchange […]
Beware: Fake Windows Update Delivers Ransomware
Most readers of this site will recognize a malicious email when they see one, but they are a source of danger to less tech-savvy individuals. One such campaign claims to be from Microsoft, advising people to update Windows, but doing so will install ransomware on your computer. Falling in the trap Researchers from Trustwave discovered […]
Android Flaw Lets Rogue Apps Spy On You Through Your Phone’s Camera
Researchers at security firm Checkmarx have uncovered several vulnerabilities in the camera apps of multiple Android smartphone made by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM) such as Google and Samsung. As Checkmarx Senior Security Researcher Pedro Umbelino explains, the team started their investigation by having a look at the Google Camera app on Pixel 2 XL and […]
FNB Bank Shuts Down Accounts Owned By Cryptocurrency Exchanges
One of the 5 largest banks in South Africa, FNB Bank notified 3 major South African cryptocurrency exchanges that their bank accounts will be closed. The crypto-exchanges affected are Luno, ICE3X, and VALR. In a letter, FNB informed these crypto-exchanges that it had decided to withdraw its banking services to crypto exchanges and other companies […]
Facebook Releases New App For Creating Memes
As part of its plans to possibly woo back young users leaving its platform in droves, Facebook has launched a meme-making app called Whale that the company says enables users to use their own images to create and share memes on social media. What’s the app about? The free app has a stock photo library […]
RBZ Clears Ecobank Of Wrongdoing For Realising $15 000 Of New Notes
Following last week’s introduction of new coins and notes, Ecobank was accused of offloading the money on black market. RBZ promised to conduct investigations on the incident and take appropriate disciplinary actions if Ecobank was found of any wrongdoing. A week later, RBZ’s Financial Intelligence Unit concluded that Ecobank had done nothing wrong in releasing […]
Microsoft Will Ditch Voice Assistant Apps For Android & iOS Next Year
In what might be a precursor of things to come, Microsoft has announced plans to kill off its Cortana voice assistant on both iOS and Android on January 31st, 2020. According to a new article on its official website, Microsoft said that the Cortana mobile app will no longer be supported beyond that date even […]
EcoCash Is Not Closing Down, Says EcoCash As It Dismisses Fake News
Amid EcoCash’s intermittent service disruptions, some people have decided to make people panic by cooking up doomsday warnings. EcoCash has dismissed a circulating message that is saying the Ecocash service and other mobile moner services will be closed down on 1 December, 2019. The message goes on to say that EcoCash users have to empty […]
Zim Wants To Launch A Satellite: What’s The Cost & What Can The Money Be Used For Instead?
Much of the talk about the budget was around Finance Minister, Mthuli Ncube’s announcement of setting aside resources for the launch of a space satellite. Many people blasted the government for committing resources to launch a satellite yet we have more pressing problems that need to be addressed. In light of that, I set out […]
Paynet Loses US $100 Million Lawsuit Against Bankers Association of Zimbabwe
Bulk payment platform, Paynet lost a lawsuit at the High Court against Bankers Association of Zimbabwe (BAZ). Back in July, Paynet, a subsidiary of Cambria Africa filed a lawsuit of US $100 million against BAZ for anti-competitive practices. In the lawsuit, Paynet accused BAZ of influencing banks to breach their agreements and not pay their […]
Preinstalled Apps Are Also Not Safe. 140 Bugs Found On Preinstalled Android Apps
Security researchers always advise Android users to be careful while downloading apps from the Google Play Store. But what about pre-installed apps in Android phones? Recently a security research company stated that pre-installed apps and firmware pose a risk due to vulnerabilities (bugs). The researchers found over 140 bugs in preinstalled apps which could be […]
Bill Gates Surpasses Jeff Bezos To Become World’s Richest Person Again
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates has claimed the title of being the World’s Richest Person. Yeah, Gates has surpassed Amazon co-founder and CEO Jeff Bezos, with a total networth of around $110 billion, according to Bloomberg’s Billionaire Index. This title was once held by Gates for 24 years before Bezos overtook him 2 years ago. Bezos […]
WhatsApp Confirms Bug That Allows Hackers To Control Your WhatsApp & Phone
Users of WhatsApp should know that after Pegasus spyware attack they face another data theft issue. The company confirmed that they found a recent vulnerability which allows hackers to take control over WhatsApp as well as the phone. Apparently, hackers created malicious MP4 files such that if downloaded in WhatsApp, they can take control over […]
BluEase:Stanbic Finally Has A Low-cost (Lite) Account
Low-cost bank accounts (lite accounts) have been a thing in Zimbabwe for some time since the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe launched its National Financial Inclusion Strategy. But, surprisingly, it was only last week when Stanbic bank unveiled its own lite account dubbed BluEase. Stanbic Bank’s head of personal and business banking, Patson Mahatchi said: Like […]
Reactions To 2020 National Budget
Image credit: Chronicle The 2020 Budget Statement has attracted interesting opinions from both public figures and unknown persons. We have just compiled a few reactions by people on Twitter. Quick NetOne, Econet, And Telecel Airtime Recharge Number to recharge: Airtime amount ($): EcoCash or OneMoney number: Buy Please dial our USSD code *405# on your […]
CBZ Says Coins In “Bin Container” Were Withdrawn By Gambling House
CBZ Bank has come out with an explanation about circulating images of bin containers with bond coins. In a tweet, CBZ said: In other words, CBZ Bank is saying that an unnamed betting house withdrew coins to pay them out as winnings to a punter. CBZ Bank says that the withdrawing of these coins was […]
Govt To Strengthen IP Rights & Protect Entrepreneurs From Companies That Steal Ideas
I have heard and bumped into a couple of entrepreneurs who claim that their idea was stolen by a certain established company. Well, now the government is going to protect entrepreneurs by “strengthening intellectual property rights”. In the 2020 National Budget Speech, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said: Innovation, which is integral for growth and better […]
Government Reviews 2% Tax Thresholds For Individuals & Businesses
Barely 3 months after reviewing the thresholds of the controversial 2% tax, Finance Minister has again reviewed upwards the tax-free thresholds for both individuals and corporates 2%. This was revealed during this afternoon’s 2020 Budget Statement presentation where the Minister said: I propose to review the Tax-Free Threshold from the current ZWL$20 to ZWL$100 and […]
RBZ To Issue Statement Today About Culprits Flooding New Notes On Black Market – Presidential Spokesman
Following the release of the new notes and coins on Tuesday, there has been an uproar on the withdraw limits set by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. The central bank set a maximum withdrawal limit of $300 per week, which arguably cannot buy one month’s grocery of an average Zimbabwean family. What’s more agitating is […]
{Updated} Follow The 2020 National Budget Statement Presentation Today (At 14:45 Hrs) On These Platforms
Watch the budget presentation below Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube will today present the 2020 National Budget Statement at 1445 Hours. You can catch the latest updates of the Budget Statement on the following platforms: Twitter MarketWatch ZimBollar Newsday Business Times Ministry of Information Equity Axis Open Parly Herald Daily News ZBC Facebook Herald Newsday ZBC […]
AfricaCom 2019: Vodacom Tanzania Launches Its Own Smart Feature Phone
At AfricaCom 2019, Vodacom Tanzania launched a smart feature phone dubbed Smart Kitochi that runs on KaiOS. Smart Kitochi is Tanzania’s first smart feature phone but not the first smart feature phone in Africa or world as MTN introduced its own smart feature phone last year at AfricaCom. It seems like smart feature phones are […]
Facebook’s iPhone App Is Secretly Using Your Camera As You Scroll
Facebook doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to user privacy. A Facebook user by the name of Joshua Maddux revealed that the company’s iOS app runs the camera in the background. It appears to happen while scrolling through your Facebook news feed, and Maddux shared a recording of it online. In the […]
Entrepreneurs Can Now Submit Applications For Stanbic Incubation Program
Back in September this year, Stanbic Bank launched an Incubation Hub that is located in Harare. The Hub runs under 5 pillars which are supposed to “address the challenges that are faced by the youths when they need to start or scale up their businesses.” Entrepreneurs who are keen to take part in Stanbic’s Incubation […]
Critical Work For System Upgrade Has Been Happening For The Past Several Months Says EcoCash
Yesterday, we broke the news that EcoCash won’t be available for 24 hours this coming weekend. According to EcoCash’s spokesperson, the weekend’s planned system upgrade marks the culmination of months of system maintenance. That maybe explains the intermittent and sporadic service outages the platform has been experiencing lately. The EcoCash system upgrade, for which critical […]
Alert! You Won’t Be Able To Use EcoCash For 24 Hours This Weekend
Your worst nightmare is happening this weekend. EcoCash has issued a statement telling people that its service won’t be available for 24 hours, from 9pm on Saturday the 16th of November to 9pm on Sunday the 17th because of a planned system maintenance. Here’s the statement from EcoCash: Given that EcoCash is used by at […]
Do Slow Websites Annoy You? Google Chrome Will Warn You
Google Chrome is one of the most popular web browsers out there and for a good reason. The web browser is constantly adding new tweaks and updates to optimize users’ web browsing experience. It was https or SSL certificate issue two years ago that filtered many websites out of presence on Google platform and now […]
Older Devices To Lose Netflix Support From 2 December
Netflix will drop support for various smart TVs and streaming sticks, starting on December 2, 2019. Netflix’s app is already warning users about the ending of support of some devices, so affected users have a month to go before they will no longer be able to watch movies via their devices. If you haven’t received […]
YouTube Promises To Delete Accounts That Are Not Making Enough Money, Users Left Confused & Angry
YouTube recently updated its terms of service, and while most of us accepted them without actually going through what they say, some people did in fact read them, and there’s something that jumped right out. The new terms of service for YouTube state the following: YouTube may terminate your access, or your Google account’s access […]
MTN To Launch $20 Android Phone This Year
MTN will launch a $20 or (R399) Android phone sometime later this year according to CEO Rob Shuter. The phone called Mobicel Rio will be made available in many African countries where MTN has a presence. We will be launching a low-cost Android smartphone built by Mobicel in the next quarter. MTN Group CEO The […]