National Report

MOBILE network operators (MNOs) spent ZiG1,08 billion, cumulatively, during the fourth quarter of 2025, double the ZiG509 million spent in the third quarter as players accelerated network expansion, latest figures show. This translates to roughly US$41,6 million spent during the quarter in real terms. According to the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz)’s…

ZIMBABWE’s trade deficit widened significantly in March 2026, surging by 59,3 percent to reach US$142,8 million as a sharp rise in imports offset steady gains in the country’s export sector. Data released by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) reveals that while exports grew by 6,7 percent to US$932 million, the value of imported goods…

ON a busy weekday morning in the central business district, office workers scroll through their phones between meetings, while just a few kilometres away in Mbare, traders exchange cash rapidly in one of the country’s most vibrant informal markets. Both groups are active in Zimbabwe’s economy, yet neither is significantly present in the capital markets.…

ZIMBABWE is emerging as a focal point in a US$3 billion energy programme funded by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to modernise fuel supply chains across Southern Africa. The project aims to cut the region’s reliance on Middle Eastern imports. Afreximbank’s senior executive vice-president Denys Denya detailed a strategic vision focused on upgrading pipelines, increasing…

PATRICK Maseva-Shayawabaya has been appointed chief executive of Mutapa Gold Resources (MGR), replacing Trevor Barnard, who has resigned, effective May 1, 2026. This comes barely four months after the company’s launch, as one of the several mineral-specific entities under the Mutapa Investment Fund’s mining portfolio following the restructuring that wound down Kuvimba Mining House. “We would…

THE government has signed an agreement with Japan under an economic and social development programme, securing US$2,6 million to procure agricultural equipment for rice production. Rice consumption in Zimbabwe has surged over the past decade, as consumers turn to it as an affordable, easy-to-cook alternative to traditional maize. This shift has prompted the government to…

THE government has set compensation for 254 property owners affected by the construction of the New City in Mt Hampden at US$75 million, as authorities move to speed up the implementation of the project. Addressing a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare yesterday, the minister of Information, Zhemu Soda, implored the ministry of Lands to complete…

AUTHORITIES are engaging security agencies to implement measures aimed at curbing the leakage of minerals during the export of unprocessed ores. This comes as the government, in February, banned the export of raw minerals and lithium concentrate to force local value addition and ensure accountability. Appearing before the parliamentary portfolio committee on Mines on Monday,…

THE government says it is accelerating its digital transformation agenda, signalling a decisive shift from policy development to practical implementation as Zimbabwe seeks to position itself as a competitive player in the global artificial intelligence (AI) economy. Speaking during the 2026 Digital Economy Conference yesterday, the minister of Information Communication Technology, Tatenda Mavetera, said the…

ZIMBABWE is finalising negotiations with China to establish export protocols for various horticultural products, aiming to unlock the Asian market. This comes as the government is anticipating an increase in exports of different horticulture products to the Far East after China’s move to open green lanes for the country’s agricultural products. In an interview yesterday,…