THE El Niño-induced drought expected during the 2026/2027 agricultural season could scorch agricultural stocks and commodity markets, amid a high likelihood of lower production, tighter supplies and rising prices, analysts say. For agro-counters on the local capital markets, the effects of the drought are expected to cascade across the entire agricultural val­ue chain. Investment analyst…

KARO Platinum has secured a 25-year Special Mining Lease Agreement with the government, paving the way for production at its platinum project on the Great Dyke. The first-phase operations are expected to commence in the second half of next year and will employ around 1 000 people and produce 226 ounces of platinum annually. President…

EAGLE Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) unitholders have approved plans to raise up to US$35 million through private placements on the Victoria Falls Stock Exchange (VFEX) over the next three years. The approval, granted at the Trust’s annual general meeting recently, authorises the trustee and REIT manager to raise the capital and list the units…

STANBIC Bank Zimbabwe has appointed Samuel Chivau­ra as head of corporate & investment banking for Zimba­bwe, effective from September 01, 2026. This follows Chivaura’s previous tenure as head of strat­egy development for Africa Regions within the Standard Bank Group. “Chivaura brings extensive experience of over 20 years across African markets within the group, having spent…

MEIKLES Limited (Meikles) says the repeal of Statutory Instrument (SI) 81A, which compelled formal retail­ers to price goods at the official interbank ex­change rate, has resulted in greater pricing flex­ibility and improved trading conditions. The group, which operates the TM Pick n Pay supermarket chain, said the regulatory change had immensely supported customer spending at…

CFI Holdings (CFI) doubled soyabean sales volumes at its Glenara Estates in the third quarter ended June 30, 2026, as it prioritised the higher-value crop to support revenue amid weaker maize prices. The shift reflects growing interest in soyabeans, which command a higher producer price than maize. The Grain Marketing Board early this year set…

NEDBANK Zimbabwe (Nedbank) says its decision to construct a new headquar­ters in Highlands, Harare, reflects confi­dence in Zimbabwe’s current and future operat­ing environment, which is showing strong signs of improvement. The investment comes as Zimbabwe contin­ues to pursue economic reforms under the gold-backed Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency, with inflation moderating to single-digits and the au­thorities…

AMALGAMATED Regional Trading Corporation (ART Corp) says it is evaluating mineral opportunities at its Mutare Estates property as it seeks to diversify reve­nue streams and unlock value from its assets. The diversified industrial and manufacturing firm said mineral prospects were encouraging. “The opportunities for the group to participate in min­eral activities on the Estates are…

SEED Co Limited says it allocated 88 percent of its procurement spending equivalent to US$13,53 million to local suppliers in the year ended March 31, 2026. Spending on local suppliers helps support domestic businesses, retain money within the economy and strengthen local supply chains. The company said foreign suppliers accounted for the remaining 12 percent…

STARAFRICA Corporation (Starafrica) sales volumes across its two sugar divisions rose significantly in the first quarter ended June 30, 2026, supported by improved consumer spending linked to strong activity in the mining and tobacco sectors. Zimbabwe’s 2026 tobacco marketing season closed with a record harvest of about 358 million kilogrammes, generating more than US$890 million…