Category: zimbabwe

Latwell Nyangu-Zimpapers Reporter

GOVERNMENT has issued immediate abatement orders to building owners with dilapidated or otherwise undesirable structures across all 92 local authorities, requiring them to repair and maintain their properties and surrounding areas to the satisfaction of the relevant local authorities.

The directive seeks to improve the built environment nationwide and applies to shopping centres, business complexes, industrial properties, office buildings, churches and other places of worship, plus private homes.

Addressing a Press conference at his offices in Harare yesterday, Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe said the measures compelled responsible citizens to carry out the necessary repairs, renovations, repainting, cleaning, refurbishment and other works required to restore buildings and their surroundings to acceptable standards.

The initiative is aligned with the national goal of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.

Minister Garwe said any person who fails to comply with the abatement orders may be liable to a fine not exceeding Level 5, or imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or both according to the applicable legislation.

He noted that the decision follows the continued deterioration of the built environment, including the condition of roads, street lighting, shopping complexes, public buildings, and other public spaces across all local authorities in the country.

The Minister said the solution is not the responsibility of local authorities and Government alone, but also that of citizens and residents in every local authority.

Zimbabwe has 92 local authorities, comprising 32 urban councils and 60 rural district councils.

“We are currently witnessing rampant breaking of local by-laws by both individuals and organisations. People are trading in undesignated places. Others are building properties without inspections or approvals, let alone owning the land on which they are building. Still others are using inappropriate materials, including plastic and substandard alternatives.”

To address the situation, the Ministry directed local authorities to intensify enforcement of existing by-laws and regulations governing workers and vendors, business licensing, property maintenance, development, and the use of premises, as well as respect for public spaces.”

He also cited Chapter 2, Sections 48 and 49 of the Model By-laws of 1977, read together with other applicable legislation and statutory instruments, noting that property owners and occupiers are responsible for ensuring that their premises are maintained in a safe, structurally sound, sanitary, orderly, and acceptable condition.

“In accordance with Section 36, Subsection 4 of the Housing Standards Control Act, Chapter 2908, all local authorities are directed to initiate processes for the issuance of abatement orders against property owners and occupiers whose buildings, boundary walls, pavements, yards, and surrounding areas are unsafe, unsanitary, dilapidated, deplorable, or otherwise in an unacceptable and intolerable state,” he said.

Minister Garwe said an abatement order is a legal directive requiring a property owner or occupier to remedy specified conditions within the period prescribed by law.

“This means that as property owners, you are expected to maintain your buildings and surrounding areas. You must ensure that the environment is modern, safe and pleasant,” he said.

He said this includes painting buildings, renovating properties and modernising premises to ensure safety and improve appearance for neighbouring structures.

“With immediate effect, abatement orders shall be issued to all building owners with dilapidated or undesirable buildings across all 92 local authorities.

“They shall cover shopping centres, business complexes, industrial properties, office buildings, churches and other places of worship, as well as private homes.”

Enforcement would be carried out without delay, adding that failure to comply may attract penalties under the law.

“These measures are intended to compel responsible citizens to undertake the immediate necessary repairs, renovations, repainting, cleaning, refurbishment and other works required to restore buildings and their surroundings to acceptable standards in line with our desire to become an upper-middle-income economy by 2030 added Minister Garwe.

Minister Garwe also directed planning authorities to intensify enforcement against illegal and unregulated developments.

He cited the Regional Town and Country Planning Act, Chapter 29:04, including Sections 32 and 34, noting that local planning authorities have powers to act against unauthorised development and unlawful building works within their jurisdictions.

“Planning authorities are required to ensure that developments comply with approved plans, planning requirements, and applicable laws.

“Where illegal developments or unauthorised building modifications are identified, enforcement orders will be issued requiring the responsible persons to stop, rectify, or remedy the unlawful development.”

Those who contravene relevant provisions of the law may face penalties, including fines or imprisonment for up to one year, as provided for under the applicable legislation.

According to the Minister, the issuance of abatement and enforcement orders forms part of the broader National Cleanup Campaign, which seeks to restore cleanliness, orderliness, safety, and functionality across cities and towns.

The ongoing cleanup operation, including the removal of vendors and others operating from undesignated areas, would continue alongside these enforcement measures.

Local authorities were directed to immediately modify and renovate old vending sites and ensure that they are habitable and safe for vendors to operate from.

The Ministry would soon release amended vendors’ by-laws for all local authorities, which will provide modern licensing and control mechanisms for third-party-owned vending and trading places.

“The by-laws will also increase penalties and allow local authorities to license workers, vendors, and any third-party-owned vending sites in a more sustainable, equitable, and transparent manner,” Minister Garwe said.

He advised affected workers and vendors to approach their local authorities and apply for vending space and vending permits.

Licensing remained the sole and lawful responsibility of local authorities.

“No space barons should be considered as an authority. The days of space barons, associations, and other organisations controlling vending spaces are long gone and shall never be tolerated by this Government ever again.”

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Engineer Tafadzwa Muguti, said the initiative forms part of Government’s broader commitment to ensure that cities and towns are properly planned, effectively managed, and able to provide a conducive environment for residents, businesses, and visitors.

He also announced operating hours for vendors.

“But with immediate effect, vending within all central business districts is now limited to 6 am to 6 pm. That is across all 92 local authorities. Vending within the residential communities will then be allowed from 6 am to 8 pm.

“After 6 pm we don’t expect to see anyone doing vending within any business district. And after 8 pm, we don’t expect to see any vending within residential communities”.

On his part, Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume said the council  would own up to its roles and align with Government’s directive to restore order in cities.

“We as urban authorities have to own up and put up our hands to say that we must do better and we need to do better in terms of enforcing cleanliness.

“We are aligned to President Mnangagwa’s Vision 2030, which targets to be a middle-income country by 2030 and part of that vision has to be carried through by the cities, and they can only do that through cleanliness, through the by-laws, through following what has been said and we have reiterated over time that cleanliness does not chase away investors. It’s actually a dirty environment that chases away investors,” he said.

The Ministry of Local Government and Public Works launched Operation Chenesa last week, with Harare receiving particular attention as it is the largest city.

However, this programme will cascade to all cities and towns and local authorities across the country.

Source: Dilapidated, unkempt building owners put on notice – herald

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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke

Senior Reporter

CHIRUNDU Border Post modernisation is set to move into full-scale construction next month following successful financing arrangements, with the Government expecting the works to be completed within 18 months.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona yesterday said Chirundu Border Consortium, a private-sector partner implementing the project under a public-private partnership, was mobilising equipment on site, with major construction works expected to begin next month.

The project is part of the Government’s broader drive to modernise the country’s major border posts and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub. This started with the highly successful reconstruction and major upgrade of the Beitbridge Border Post, again involving a consortium in a public-private-partnership.

“Chirundu Border Consortium is now mobilising at the site so that they start the real works, and according to the schedule, beginning of October it will be full throttle on the border modernisation. What you will be witnessing now is the movement of plant and the yellow machines on site, and thereafter they will start the real works, which we anticipate to be completed in 18 months,” said Minister Mhona.

The Government and CBC on Wednesday formally marked the achievement of securing the necessary financing arrangements and allowing the contractor to proceed with implementation.

Minister Mhona said infrastructure development, regional integration and border modernisation remained among Government’s priorities, with the Chirundu project following the successful redevelopment of the Beitbridge Border Post.

Under the agreed PPP framework, CBC will mobilise the capital required to develop and operate the upgraded border post.

Minister Mhona said the development would be undertaken in phases, beginning with the main border facilities before other amenities such as accommodation and associated infrastructure are addressed.

“This will be on a phased approach, where we concentrate on the modernisation of the border, just as we did at Beitbridge, where we focused on the actual border before dealing with other amenities. Beginning in October, we expect full-throttle works on the main border facilities, with the other components being incorporated as the project progresses,” he added.

Chirundu is a key gateway between Zimbabwe and Zambia and forms part of the North-South Corridor, which links major economic centres in Southern and Central Africa.

The modernisation is expected to replace ageing infrastructure and introduce improved operational systems aimed at reducing transit delays and facilitating the movement of passengers and freight.

The project follows the successful modernisation of the Beitbridge Border Post, Zimbabwe’s busiest land border, which was redeveloped under a PPP at an estimated cost of about US$110 million.

The upgraded facility, commissioned by President Mnangagwa in 2023, introduced modern passenger and freight facilities, improved border-control systems and expanded infrastructure aimed at easing congestion and facilitating trade between Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The Beitbridge redevelopment has since provided a model for Government’s wider programme to modernise major ports of entry through PPPs, with Chirundu now becoming the next major border modernisation project along the North-South Corridor.

The project partners said construction mobilisation was already well advanced, with engineering, procurement and construction contractors mobilised, while a batch plant was operational and various contractors already on site.

CBC chairman Mr Glynn Cohen said the financial close followed extensive collaboration between Government, the consortium, SAFAGA International and its financing, equity and technical partners.

“Financial close represents the culmination of extensive cooperation between the Government of Zimbabwe, CBC, SAFAGA International and our equity, financing and technical partners. SAFAGA is proud to have founded and sponsored this project, and we look forward to delivering a modern and efficient border post that will serve Zimbabwe and the wider region for generations,” he said.

Strategic investor Strategic Partners Group founder and group chief executive Mr Mzolisi Diliza said the project was aligned with its mandate of investing in infrastructure across Southern Africa.

“Achieving financial close on the Chirundu Border Post PPP is a landmark transaction for SPG, and we are excited to partner on this milestone concession. It aligns with our strategic mandate to invest in world-class infrastructure across Southern Africa and reinforces our ambition to pursue high-impact investment opportunities that drive regional trade and economic growth,” he said.

Standard Bank of South Africa, which acted as lead debt arranger and senior lender, said financial close reflected confidence in the project’s contractual framework and projected cash flows.

“Standard Bank of South Africa is pleased to have participated as lead debt arranger and senior lender on the Chirundu Border Post PPP project and to confirm the successful achievement of financial close.

“We regard the project as a critical driver for regional integration and trade facilitation across the corridor and look forward to supporting the concessionaire, sponsors and Government partners through construction and into long-term operations,” said Energy and Infrastructure Finance executive, Mr George Kotsovos.

Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe chief executive Mr Solomon Nyanhongo said the milestone demonstrated the potential of well-structured PPPs to attract private investment into strategic infrastructure.

“Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe welcomes the successful achievement of financial close for the Chirundu Border Post upgrade and modernisation, a significant milestone in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development journey. It is also a testament to the potential of well-structured public-private partnerships to attract private-sector investment into nationally strategic projects,” he said

The upgraded Chirundu facility is expected to improve the efficiency and security of cross-border passenger and freight movement while supporting increased trade along the corridor.

Source: Chirundu Border Post modernisation begins next month – herald

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Business Reporter

THE International Monetary Fund has reached a staff-level agreement with Zimbabwe on policies needed to complete the second review of the country’s 10-month Staff-Monitored Programme, the Fund announced yesterday.

The agreement, which remains subject to approval by IMF management, follows a 10-day mission to Harare led by Mr Wojciech Maliszewski from September 7 to 17 2026.

Completion of the review would mark a further step in consolidating macro-economic stability and building the track record needed for arrears clearance, debt restructuring and re-engagement with the international community.

Speaking after the talks, Mr Maliszewski said programme implementation through the end of June had been strong, with all quantitative and indicative targets met except the indicative target on protected social and priority spending. The end-June structural benchmarks — publishing the finalised user manual for the Zimbabwe Social Registry and developing a Treasury Single Account reform strategy — were also met, he confirmed.

The Fund said Zimbabwe’s economy was projected to expand by 5 percent in 2026, following growth of 8.3 percent last year. Annual inflation fell to 2.9 percent in August, a low single-digit rate, supported by tight monetary conditions and relative exchange rate stability. The current account is expected to remain in surplus this year on the back of strong export receipts and remittance inflows.

Growth is expected to moderate to 3.5 percent in 2027, however, because of the anticipated effects of a super El Niño event — an estimate that assumes the authorities’ planned mitigation measures are delivered. Inflation is expected to remain in single digits and the current account to stay in surplus. The Fund warned that the outlook was subject to downside risks should the El Niño event prove more severe than assumed, or should mitigating measures be delayed or prove less effective than expected.

Mr Maliszewski said fiscal performance through end-June had been stronger than expected, reflecting robust revenue collection. This, he said, provided an opportunity to strengthen fiscal buffers while keeping spending within the approved budget, and he stressed the importance of continued improvements in expenditure control, cash planning, public financial management and domestic arrears management.

In an interview last night, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said Zimbabwe “has once again largely met the targets set in the SMP on both monetary and fiscal policy”.

“Monetary policy has remained prudent with positive real interest rates and controlled liquidity. On the fiscal front, Zimbabwe is living within its means and strengthening fiscal management rules.

“Both fiscal and monetary policy have been supportive of macroeconomic stability. We now await the third assessment at year end.”

The Fund singled out the shortfall in protected social and priority spending as a significant concern. Missing the target, it said, underscored the need to improve cash planning and budget execution so that approved resources reach priority programmes and vulnerable households in a timely manner.

Mr Maliszewski welcomed the authorities’ commitment to address the implementation bottlenecks and strengthen monitoring of social spending.

On monetary policy, the Fund said the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe had maintained a tight stance that had helped keep inflation low and contain pressures in the foreign exchange market. It said the stance should be maintained until inflation expectations were firmly anchored and confidence in the ZiG strengthened.

The central bank has advanced the development of an electronic foreign exchange trading platform, described by the Fund as an important step towards more transparent, market-based trading. The authorities have also made progress on a strategy to further liberalise the foreign exchange market, strengthen monetary policy operations and reform the FX intervention framework.

Structural reforms in public financial and debt management have advanced, with U.S. dollar payments brought within the public financial management system and commitment controls strengthened. The Fund said completion of the framework for liability management operations was an important step towards ensuring debt operations were transparent, well governed and consistent with the medium-term debt strategy.

On governance, the Fund noted progress in preparing the National Anti-Corruption Strategy 2 and welcomed the publication of the Mutapa Investment Fund’s financial statements, alongside progress towards publishing those of its portfolio companies.

“Resolving Zimbabwe’s external arrears and restoring debt sustainability remain central to the authorities’ re-engagement agenda,” Mr Maliszewski said, adding that continued strong performance under the programme, progress in debt data reconciliation and sustained engagement with creditors would be important to support the next stages of the arrears-clearance and debt-resolution process.

The mission met Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube, Finance Permanent Secretary Mr George Guvamatanga, Reserve Bank Governor Dr John Mushayavanhu, senior government officials, and representatives of the private sector, civil society and development partners.

The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by IMF management.

Source: Zim, IMF agree on second review – herald

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Lincoln Towindo in HANGZHOU, China

ZIMBABWE has secured firm commitments from major Chinese enterprises to partner the country in the beneficiation and value addition of its mineral resources, with the full success of a high-level investment mission to China set to be measured by the implementation of projects on the ground, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.

Speaking at the conclusion of his working visit to Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, yesterday, Dr Chiwenga said the engagements with Chinese companies, spanning the mining, energy, technology and manufacturing sectors, had been productive, while stressing that promises alone would not constitute success.

“We will see the full success of the mission when the programme starts taking shape and we begin to see projects being implemented,” he said.

“But having said that, we believe we had successful discussions with all the major companies that we met.”

The mission’s central mandate, the Vice President said, was to ensure that investment in Zimbabwe transformed the country’s mineral wealth within its borders and did not merely extract raw resources.

“The focus is on implementing the programme that the Government of Zimbabwe wants to see take place, that is, the beneficiation of our God-given mineral resources; value addition through manufacturing, which leads to what can be described as the industrialisation of Zimbabwe,” he said.

During the visit, Dr Chiwenga announced that the Government would no longer approve isolated, single-mineral mining operations, insisting instead on integrated investments capable of identifying, separating and processing multiple minerals at source.

He toured Huayou Cobalt, which has invested more than US$700 million in its Arcadia lithium mine in Goromonzi, including a concentrator and a lithium sulphate plant that began production this year. He also visited Chilwee, China’s largest battery manufacturer, which he encouraged to establish production facilities in Zimbabwe, where the raw materials required for battery manufacturing are already mined.

The Vice President also toured Alibaba, met leaders of construction machinery giant Sany Group and railway builder China Railway 25th Bureau Group, and visited the Hangzhou City Brain artificial intelligence command centre.

He also officiated at the Zimbabwe-China Business Forum, which was attended by leading Chinese investors.

Dr Chiwenga said the mission was giving practical effect to agreements already reached by the leadership of the two countries.

“This visit to Zhejiang Province, which is one of the economic powerhouses of China, has given us the opportunity to meet face to face and advance Zimbabwe’s vision through implementation, as already agreed by our two leaders, President Mnangagwa and President Xi Jinping, and through resolutions adopted by the two countries during the Joint Permanent Commission held in Harare,” he said.

Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to China, Mrs Abigail Shoniwa, confirmed that Chinese enterprises had already begun responding positively to the investment invitation.

She, however, said follow-up engagements would determine the mission’s ultimate success.

“The message brought by the Vice President was that Zimbabwe is looking for investment, but also for investors who can partner with us in value addition and industrialisation. That was the critical message of this mission and we are very pleased that it has been heard, judging by the feedback that has already been received,” she said.

“The agenda has been set and there is a lot of work ahead. What is critical now is following up on what has been discussed.”

Mrs Shoniwa said energy featured prominently in the engagements, with a number of companies expressing strong interest in new energy projects.

She said such partnerships were indispensable because industrialisation could not be achieved without adequate energy supplies.

“We cannot talk about industrialisation without energy,” she said.

She added that the delegation had drawn important lessons from China’s technological advances, including the Hangzhou City Brain platform, which uses artificial intelligence to manage transport systems, hospitals and municipal services.

She said such experiences would help inform the development of Zimbabwe’s planned smart cities.

“My assessment is that we will have quite a number of investors coming to Zimbabwe in response to the invitation to invest,” she said.

Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet, Dr Willard Manungo, said the mission was anchored on Zimbabwe’s development agenda of growing the economy and raising incomes.

“Our vision is to grow the economic cake and improve the incomes of the average Zimbabwean. To achieve that, we need economic transformation,” he said.

“The Vice President’s visit is intended to entrench the industrialisation agenda by working with Chinese enterprises, both those already operating in Zimbabwe and those yet to enter the market, and encouraging them to invest. It is a win-win arrangement for both Zimbabwe and China. A transformed Zimbabwe brings greater value to the partnership, meaning we all benefit.”

The working visit began in Beijing with bilateral meetings and tours of various industries before moving to Zhejiang Province, one of China’s leading industrial centres.

The province is home to global companies such as Alibaba and Huayou Cobalt.

Source: Chinese firms back beneficiation drive – herald

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Raymond Jaravaza-Bulawayo Bureau

NATIONAL University of Science and Technology Chancellor President Mnangagwa yesterday capped 2 570 graduates at the institution’s 32nd graduation ceremony, underscoring the university’s commitment to driving innovation, industrialisation, and inclusive development through Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education.

Student enrolment at the institution has grown from 11 432 to 13 352, while female participation increased from 46 percent to 47 percent, reaching 52 percent in the August 2026 intake.

Supported by Government funding for female STEM students, NUST has adopted policies and strategies to achieve gender parity and expand opportunities for girls and youth, ensuring that no one is left behind in the journey towards national development.

This year’s graduation was held under the theme: “Innovative Graduates, Industrial Futures”.

The President conferred Doctor of Philosophy, master’s, undergraduate and diploma qualifications across various faculties.

Of the 2 570 graduates, 1 362 (53 percent) were male, 1 208 (47 percent) were female while 68 percent graduated with STEM degrees.

Five Doctor of Philosophy degrees were conferred while 293 graduated with first class and distinctions.

A total of 212 graduates were from NUST affiliate institutions and 19 graduates were international students from Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Eswatini, Mauritius and Zambia.

Three graduated posthumously.

Speaking at the ceremony, NUST Vice Chancellor Professor Mqhele Dlodlo said in line with Government policy that the future lay in innovation, value-addition and beneficiation of local resources, the university had embarked on high impact projects.

“Government has granted us a medicinal cannabis licence, which gives us an opportunity to enter the multi-billion-dollar industry and I am happy to report that the inspection process of our facilities is ongoing.

“We are determined to go beyond producing raw cannabis flowers to establishing a centre of excellence and specialised research in medicinal cannabis,” said Prof Dlodlo.

He said in response to President Mnangagwa’s call for universities to be engines of innovation, skills development and research to strengthen the mining sector, NUST intends to develop mineral beneficiation technologies and also train future generations of mining professionals.

“We want to incubate new mining technologies from eco-friendly extraction methods to digital mining cadasters after Government granted us an experimental mining licence.

“We have resumed construction of the Central Library whose construction stopped in 2013. Brick-by-brick we will finish it with our own hands,” said Prof Dlodlo.

He said the NUST Agro-Industrial Park, located in Bulilima District, is now at 95 percent completion.

“We have completed the 7km water pipeline from Mananda Dam and are now constructing two-over-night water storage dams at the farm, with a capacity of 15 million litres.

“These will be populated with over 200 000 Nile tilapia fish, contributing to National Development Strategy 2 (NDS 2) target of a US$1 billion fish and aquaculture sector by 2030.Livestock production has begun with the procurement of 258 herd of cattle, which is already at the farm. An additional 15 000-layer chicken run is 60 percent complete,” said Prof Dlodlo.

“A complementary greenhouse high-tech new growing hydroponic system will enable us to cultivate 500 000 high-yielding ever-bearing strawberry varieties for the export market,” he added.

In 2026 NUST students produced innovations that received recognition on the national, regional and global stages.

“Some highlights include Bridget Sibanda who was selected to present her startup innovation – Beelifeline Private Limited, an emergency response system – at Europe’s largest startup and tech event, VivaTech 2026 expo in Paris, France.

“Our student engineers dominated the national Zimbabwe Institution of Engineers (ZIE) Awards in July this year by emerging as the overall champions, showcasing unparalleled innovation in line with the Heritage-based Education 5.0,” said Prof Dlodlo.

“The students, Michael Kumirai and Desire Chirichoga were sponsored by ZIE to represent the country with their ‘Smart Constructed Wetland’ system at the Balai Kartini Exhibition Centre in Jakarta, Indonesia.”

A NUST graduate Courage Nyoni developed a lobola calculator mobile application that has attracted thousands of users worldwide and gained global recognition after featuring on the Japanese broadcaster, Nippon TV.

“This is a clear demonstration of NUST innovative graduates who are making an impact globally,” he said.

In the energy sector, NUST has entered into a partnership with the Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) in pioneering geothermal energy exploration across more than thirty natural hot springs nationwide, notably in Binga and Lubimbi near the Gwayi River in Matabeleland North Province and Rupisi in Manicaland Province.

“This initiative seeks to diversify Zimbabwe’s energy portfolio by supplementing hydro-power, thermal generation and solar energy. Already, a benchmarking exercise has been successfully undertaken in Kenya, laying the groundwork for innovation and progress in our national energy landscape,” added Prof Dlodlo.

Five graduates were awarded the Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Chancellor’s Award.

The ceremony was attended by Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development Minister Dr Frederick Shava, Cabinet Ministers, vice chancellors from other universities, captains of industry and senior Government officials.

Source: STEM Powerhouse . . . President caps 2 570 at NUST . . . 68pc get science, tech degrees – herald

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