local-news-blog

Nduduzo Tshuma in Beijing, China 

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa left here this morning after a successful visit that saw Zimbabwe and China elevating relations from a Five Star Iron Clad Friendship to the All-Weather Zimbabwe-China Community with a Shared Future.

The land mark development is expected to further deepen bilateral trade and strategic economic partnership, setting a prime example of solidarity and cooperation between China and Africa and the Global South.

President Mnangagwa was in Beijing and his delegation at the invitation of President Xi and joined fellow world leaders on Wednesday at the Tiananmen Square for the 80th Anniversary of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War.

He also used the visit here since Monday to hold a series of high-level meetings with representatives of Chinese companies with investment interests in Zimbabwe and those keen to set up shop in the country.

The high-level meetings culminated in the landmark engagement with President Xi yesterday, which sought to strengthen Harare’s relations with Beijing with focus on advancing economic diplomacy in line with Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement foreign policy.

He was seen off at the Beijing Capital International Airport by Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Beijing Municipal People’s Congress Mr YU Jun, senior Chinese government officials, the Zimbabwe Ambassador to China Abigail Shonhiwa and senior staff at the ZimbabweanEmbassy here .

The President was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Attorney General Mrs Virginia Mabiza, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya and Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet in charge of Presidential Communications Mr George Charamba among senior government officials.

Nqobile Bhebhe-Zimpapers Business Hub

ZIMBABWE has unveiled a US$1,4 billion agricultural investment pitch to global financiers, targeting seven high-impact value chains as the country positions itself to meet domestic needs and secure lucrative export markets.

The pitch was made at the Africa Food Systems Forum (AFSF) in Dakar, Senegal, where permanent secretary for Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Professor Obert Jiri, said the thrust was anchored on the Zimbabwe Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.

Zimbabwe has identified 42 agricultural value chains but narrowed down its pitch to seven priority areas for impact results, and these are blueberries, dairy, beef, maize, sunflowers, soyabeans and poultry.

“We are in Dakar, Senegal, where we are meeting investors in agriculture. As Zimbabwe, we have our investment pitch anchored on the Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Strategy.

“We are saying Zimbabwe is open to developing these value chains to fulfil internal requirements and also for exports. The total package of US$1,4 billion has been pitched to ensure that we develop these value chains,” Prof Jiri said.

According to the Zimbabwe Agriculture Food Systems and Rural Transformation Investment Roadmap, sector-specific requirements include US$468 million for the production of maize, US$403 million for soyabeans, US$251,9 million for sunflower,  US$23,7 million for blueberries,  US$45,2 million for beef, US$71,4 million for dairy, US$15,1 million for eggs and  US$143,3 million for broilers.

For instance, in terms of the fast-growing blueberries subsector, the roadmap document says that Zimbabwe has set a production growth target of 19 000 metric tonnes by 2030, up from the current 8 000 metric tonnes.

The domestic market value is expected to expand from US$48 million in 2025 to US$68 million by 2030, with significant export potential across SADC, COMESA and other global markets.

For beef, volume from pen fattening is projected to grow to 164 000 metric tonnes by 2030 from 123 000 metric tonnes.

The annual export potential has been pegged at 15 000 metric tonnes to the European Union, the Middle East and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Domestic market value is expected to expand to US$757 million by 2030 from US$529 million. Investment opportunities include stock procurement, feedlots, processing equipment, cold chain infrastructure, veterinary products, paddocks and transport logistics.

In terms of the dairy industry, national milk output is projected to reach 155 million litres by 2030, up from the current 117 million litres, driven by investments in breeding, feed production and processing.

The poultry sector expansion target entails broiler and egg production, earmarked for major investment to supply growing domestic and regional demand.

Prof Jiri said the investment roadmap was designed to unlock value, enhance national food security and transform Zimbabwe into a competitive regional food hub by 2030.

Agriculture analysts are on record saying the country’s agricultural sector rebound will propel strong growth across key sub-sectors of the domestic economy, ultimately benefiting associated businesses along value chains.

The strong performance of agriculture this year is expected to drive business in the agro-processing, transportation and rural retail sub-sectors and related value chains.

Given its strategic importance to Zimbabwe’s economy, the sector is also expected to contribute significantly towards Zimbabwe’s economic growth target of 6 percent this year, following the muted 2 percent expansion last year.

A strategically important economic segment of Zimbabwe’s economy, the growth of agriculture is projected to recover to grow by 12,8 percent in 2025, following the 15 percent contraction in 2024 due to the impact of El Niño-induced drought.

This growth is forecast to be driven by a bumper winter wheat harvest, projected to be higher than initially projected, coupled with good maize and tobacco harvests this season following the good  rains received in the 2024/5 season.

In that regard, the manufacturing sector is now projected to grow by 3,1 percent in 2025.

The growth of agricultural output will positively impact agro-processing, including the food, livestock and poultry feed production, which would drive production and increase economic activity.

Farirai Machivenyika

Senior Reporter

THERE is currently no law banning tints on car windows, the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, Ziyambi Ziyambi, said yesterday.

Responding to questions from legislators during the National Assembly’s question time, Minister Ziyambi said any such ban would need Parliament to change the law.

This follows an announcement of a ban on tints on car windows by Permanent Secretary for Presidential Affairs and Devolution Mr Tafadzwa Muguti on Tuesday.

Mr Muguti said the ban covered both private and public transport vehicles, with exemptions only for official Government VIP vehicles and factory-standard tints.

He said the ban was intended to curb crime involving vehicles with tinted windows, citing the recent rape of a Grade Seven girl in a minibus at Julia Zvobgo Street bus terminus in central Harare.

Minister Ziyambi, however, set the record straight yesterday, saying Parliament would have to be involved if such a law was to be enacted.

“At the moment, we don’t have any law banning tinted windows on vehicles. If we are to have such a law, it would involve consultations between my ministry and that of Home Affairs and we would also have to bring it to Parliament,” he said.

Responding to a question on what the Government would do to compensate motorists who were fined for driving vehicles with tinted windows from the time Mr Muguti made the pronouncement, Minister Ziyambi said they were free to seek recourse at the courts.

“You have to be charged for breaking a particular law and I wouldn’t know how those motorists were charged on a law that is not there. Our police are professional and I don’t think they would do that,” he said.

“However, the admission of guilt ticket issued by the police is a court document and if there are motorists who have been issued such tickets, they are free to approach the courts for redress.”

Minister Ziyambi also informed the House how Government policy positions on various issues were made public.

“Government’s policy pronouncements are made through the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, (Dr Jenfan Muswere) and his Permanent Secretary (Mr Nick Mangwana) or the Presidential spokesperson (Deputy Chief Secretary Mr George Charamba),” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said Government ministries were empowered to make public pronouncements on issues related to their portfolios.

“As for me, I can only speak on Government policies when I am in this House (as Leader of Government Business in the House) but can’t do it when I am outside,” he said.

Meanwhile, Minister Ziyambi said the Government would soon launch an agency to deal with the drugs and substance abuse menace.

“This agency will be responsible for curbing the drug and substance abuse menace and also the rehabilitation of addicts. It will be a multi-stakeholder agency,” he said.

Minister Ziyambi said Cabinet had since approved the establishment of the agency following recommendations from the Ministerial Committee on drugs and substance abuse chaired by Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri.

Nduduzo Tshuma in Beijing, China

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa on Thursday morning emphasised on the the importance of history as he paid tribute to China’s role in the Second World War.

Speaking during a bilateral meeting with his Chinese counterpart, President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People here, the President also welcomed the elevation of ties between Harare and Beijing.

“May I begin by thanking you for the invitation for Zimbabwe, and me personally, to be part of the historic 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War,” President Mnangagwa said.

He congratulated President Xi and the Chinese nation for “a spectacular military parade which we witnessed yesterday, it was out of this world.”

“The successful event was a grand display of military might, precision and patriotism. We welcome and fully concur with your call for nations to never forget history and tragedies of war as well as the importance of upholding the principle of indivisible security for all,” President Mnangagwa said.

He added that the commemorations would “go a long way to promote the correct historical narrative of China’s great contribution to the Second World War. The spirit and resilience of the Chinese people and their ironclad strength will remain a source of inspiration for generations to come.”

Turning to bilateral relations, President Mnangagwa highlighted that this year marks 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between Zimbabwe and China.

“These excellent relations have stood the test of time and continue to grow from strength to strength. Our friendship and partnership have matured. Zimbabwe, therefore, welcomes the deepening and elevation of our relations to an All-Weather Zimbabwe–China Community with a Shared Future,” he said.

The President stressed that Harare was ready to embrace this new characterisation of ties with Beijing.

“We look forward to recalibrating our excellent relations under this characterisation in pursuit of joint development and win–win cooperation,” he said.

Yeukai Karengezeka

Court Correspondent

Zimdancehall chanter Kudakwashe Gift Hombarume, popularly known as Chillmaster, was recently banned from driving for nine months.

The ruling was issued by a Mbare magistrate following a directive from Judge President Mary Zimba-Dube to review his initial sentence.

Chillmaster was convicted in May of culpable homicide and driving without a license.

He was initially fined US$200 for driving without a license and sentenced to 210 hours of community service for the culpable homicide charge.

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

A 35-year-old headmaster from Bindura will perform 245 hours of community service after he stole US$792 meant for the 2025 Grade Seven examination fees for 12 pupils.

Kudakwashe Tivarige (35) was the headmaster at Sunrise Group of Schools in Maravanyika Village, Chief Masembura, Bindura.

He was arrested for theft of trust property after he diverted US$792 for exam fees paid by the 12 pupils between February 2024 and January 2025 through the school’s accounts office.

The school directors instructed him to register the pupils at Dengu Primary, as Sunrise Group of Schools is not an examination centre.

Instead, he pocketed the money, falsely claiming the pupils had been registered to write the examinations at Maravanyika Primary School.

The fraud was exposed when school director Ms Martha Masiachengo verified with ZIMSEC and discovered the pupils had not been registered.

A police report was made at ZRP Manhenga, leading to Tivarige’s arrest. Nothing was recovered.

He was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment with three months suspended on condition of good behaviour and a further three months suspended if he restitutes the US$792.

The remaining six months were converted to 245 hours of community service at Manhenga Clinic.

Maria Chiguvari | Zimpapers Arts and Entertainment Hub

Nigerian gospel artist Sinach, known as the Queen of Gospel Music, has arrived in the country ahead of her guest appearance at Today’s Woman Conference.

Themed “Today’s Woman: Serving God in her Generation with the Fear of the Lord,” led by Archbishop Professor Eunor Guti, the interdenominational conference will be held from Thursday until Saturday at Glamis Arena.

Sinach, celebrated globally for hits like ‘Way Maker’ and ‘I Know Who I Am’ will be performing everyday at Today’s Women Conference.
The conference will bring together women from all walks of life for a powerful celebration of faith, empowerment, and community.

Takudzwa Karowangoro

Two men have been convicted by the Mutare Magistrates’ Court for violating the Customs and Excise Act after they were arrested for smuggling 458 sacks of groundnuts into Zimbabwe in August.

A statement issued by the National Prosecuting Authority says Willard Obete Luis (37) of Manica, Mozambique, and Oscar Makawi (37) of Dangamvura, Mutare, were each fined US$1 000 or 12 months in jail.

The court heard that on August 23 2025, police officers on patrol along Beira Road intercepted a truck driven by Luis. Upon inspection, the truck was found loaded with groundnuts belonging to Makawi.

“The driver failed to produce any declaration forms for the consignment. The truck and goods were escorted to ZRP Mutare Central and later handed over to ZIMRA, which confirmed the consignment was smuggled,” said the NPA statement.

The potential prejudice was US$2 500. The recovered groundnuts were forfeited to ZIMRA.