Category: zimbabwe

Source: Second Republic fulfils promise to war veterans – herald

Gibson Nyikadzino-Zimpapers Politics Hub

The Second Republic has been hailed for moving beyond rhetoric to fulfilling promises made to war veterans and implementing action-oriented initiatives that have positively improved their welfare and business acumen, Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Senator Monica Mavhunga said yesterday.

Ahead of the Heroes Day commemorations next Monday, Senator Mavhunga praised President Mnangagwa for providing support and direction towards emancipatory programmes that generate sustainable revenue for war veterans through the Veterans Fund.

She said the initiatives are not only capacitating war veterans with business skills and knowledge, but ensuring that they translate their knowledge to benefit the economy and improve livelihoods.

“The Second Republic moved beyond promises and moved a step further from where we had statutory benefits for war veterans to the institutionalisation of empowering projects under the Veterans Investment Holding Company (VIHC).

“Under the VIHC, we are unlocking economic value through companies and projects that are being undertaken by war veterans spanning operating safaris, animal husbandry projects, mines, and farms. The institutionalised projects under the Second Republic across key economic sectors are generating sustainable revenue for the war veterans,” Senator Mavhunga said.

The VIHC was established to bridge the gap between intention and impact, and is tasked with creating structured revenue-generating projects that directly benefit veterans of the struggle and their dependants.

Furthermore, Government has also engaged the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) to train and equip war veterans with skills and knowledge to venture into projects that are bankable.

Senator Mavhunga said at least 200 war veterans have been equipped with skills through the ZIDA partnership.

“So far at least 200 war veterans have undergone skills training with ZIDA on bankable projects. We thank Government because this is a critical contribution that helps direct efforts of war veterans into the mainstream economy.

“Besides the projects that are under the VIHC, some war veterans have their farms and mines, they will find this training useful,” Senator Mavhunga added.

Senator Mavhunga also commended the Second Republic for spearheading the memorialisation of Zimbabwe’s liberation struggle through modern digital formats for distribution in schools and museums.

She emphasised the need for the memory of Zimbabwe’s history to be kept alive for posterity’s sake through books, documentaries, films and digital formats that can be accessed by young people.

“For memorialisation of our history, we are working with relevant ministries under a committee headed by the Office of the President and Cabinet where there is a Heritage Fund to restore all sites where the remains of our heroes are interred.

“There is material about the liberation struggle that needs to be digitised so that schools and museums can access it and can be used when teaching about the history of Zimbabwe.”

This year’s National Heroes Day commemorations will be held under the theme, “Lest We Forget” and Government is set to honour 50 000 war veterans with medals.

Senator Mavhunga said names of the recipients have been identified and Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will preside over the handing over of medals.

“Our preparations are at an advanced stage as we are going to honour our war veterans. Each province will honour 5 000 war veterans with medals and their names have already been submitted. Ministers of State for Provincial Affairs will preside over these ceremonies in each province,” Senator Mavhunga said.

The main Heroes Day commemorations will be held at the National Heroes Acre and Zimbabwe currently has a recorded total 254 fallen heroes.

The post Second Republic fulfils promise to war veterans appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Grain Levy funds 1 796ha irrigation drive – herald

Theseus Mauruki Shambare

AT LEAST 1 796 hectares will be added to the country’s irrigable farmland through the rehabilitation of 24 irrigation schemes financed under the Grain Levy as the country braces for what weather experts say could be a 2026/2027 El Niño season.

The programme is being financed through the Agricultural Marketing Fund, which is supported by the Grain Levy introduced under Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025.

Collected by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) on imported grain, the levy was established to mobilise resources for strategic investments that increase agricultural production, strengthen food security and reduce dependence on grain imports.

The irrigation expansion comes as the Government steps up preparations in anticipation of below-normal rainfall across Southern Africa.

Alongside irrigation development, the authorities are promoting climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation, water harvesting and drought-tolerant crop varieties in an effort to reduce agriculture’s vulnerability to erratic weather.

Last week, President Mnangagwa urged farmers to prioritise early maturing and drought-resistant crops, while assuring the nation that the Government was implementing comprehensive measures to cushion the agriculture sector against expected El Niño conditions.

The President’s call followed warnings by weather experts indicating a 90 percent probability of below-normal rainfall across the region.

The Government’s 2026/2027 summer cropping plan targets 1,8 million ha of maize and more than 500 000ha of traditional grains, with irrigation identified as one of the key pillars of the national climate adaptation strategy.

More than US$3,2 million and ZiG29 million have already been disbursed under the Agricultural Marketing Fund towards irrigation development, with projects at various stages of completion across the country.

AMA’s marketing and public relations manager Ms Tina Nleya said the authority was beginning to witness tangible results from the Grain Levy.

“So far, we have managed to rehabilitate 24 irrigation schemes covering 1 796 hectares of land, and Nyaitenga is one of the irrigation schemes that is now 100 percent complete, with most of the irrigation schemes being between 60 and 100 percent complete,” she said.

“This should be completed within the next few months and, after that, a third tranche of funding will be released to further develop other irrigation schemes.”

The Grain Levy, she said, was established after the Government recognised the need for a sustainable financing mechanism to boost agricultural production, while ensuring that farmers benefit from structured markets.

“What we are seeing today is the utilisation of the Grain Levy under SI 87 of 2025. The levy is collected by AMA and deposited into the Agricultural Marketing Fund. Besides rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure, we are also working to aggregate production so that we can secure better and more reliable markets for farmers.”

An AMA progress report shows that completed projects include Nyaitenga in Mashonaland East, Chimhanda in Mashonaland Central, Nyamangara in Mashonaland West and Hlauke in Matabeleland North.

Several other schemes are at advanced stages of completion.

The report further indicates that projects being implemented under the first phase are largely between 63 and 99 percent complete, while implementation under the second phase has commenced in several provinces, signalling continued expansion of the programme.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Professor Obert Jiri recently said the Government’s climate resilience strategy was anchored in six key pillars: strengthening the Strategic Grain Reserve, expanding irrigation, promoting Pfumvudza/Intwasa, increasing production of traditional grains, encouraging the adoption of climate-smart seed varieties and strengthening early warning systems.

Among the flagship projects is the US$120 000 Nyaitenga Irrigation Scheme in Murehwa, where 20ha have been restored to full production, benefiting more than 50 farming families after part of the scheme had remained non-functional for almost five years.

Mashonaland East provincial irrigation development director Engineer Catherine Mureri-Jaji said the rehabilitation had restored the entire irrigation scheme within a month.

“For almost five years, our drip section was totally down, but after the intervention through AMA funding, it only took us a month to rehabilitate the scheme and now it is fully functional,” she said.

“The rehabilitation included repairing the main pipeline, replacing damaged filters and drip lines, installing a new pump and extending the scheme by an additional three hectares for youth farmers.”

For 29-year-old farmer Mr Katrosa Gondo, the revived irrigation scheme represents renewed hope for young people in agriculture.

“For years, we depended entirely on rainfall, and many young people had begun to lose interest in farming. With irrigation now restored, we can produce throughout the year, earn a reliable income and build our future through agriculture,” he said.

Another beneficiary, Ms Samantha Sapuwa, said reliable access to water had transformed livelihoods.

“We now have confidence to invest in farming because we know we can produce even when the rains fail. Irrigation is helping us improve food security, educate our children and generate income from agriculture,” she said.

Ms Portia Chigora said the scheme had created new opportunities for women farmers to venture into commercial production.

“Water is now available throughout the year and that means we can diversify into high-value crops and supply formal markets. Women are becoming more economically independent because of this project,” she said.

Ward 25 councillor Mr Chenjerai Kandemiri said the rehabilitation had restored hope in the community.

“When the irrigation scheme stopped functioning, many people became idle, with some youths turning to drugs and substance abuse while families struggled to survive. Today, people are back in the fields, incomes are beginning to improve and the whole community is benefiting,” he said.

The post Grain Levy funds 1 796ha irrigation drive appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s largest companies are entering a new phase of expansion, with recent trading updates suggesting that corporate strategy is shifting away from defensive survival measures towards investment, capacity expansion and long-term growth.

For much of the past decade, businesses were primarily focused on navigating inflation, currency instability and unpredictable consumer demand. Today, however, executives are increasingly reporting genuine growth in sales volumes rather than revenue gains driven solely by inflation, reflecting improving macroeconomic conditions.

According to The Herald, recent corporate performance points to growing confidence that Zimbabwe’s current economic momentum will be sustained through the remainder of the year, supported by exchange rate stability, moderating inflation, stronger foreign currency inflows and improved liquidity across productive sectors of the economy.

From Stability to Expansion

The emerging trend represents an important turning point for Zimbabwe’s formal business sector. Instead of concentrating on preserving margins and protecting balance sheets from currency shocks, companies are increasingly allocating capital towards expanding production capacity, upgrading facilities and pursuing new market opportunities.

The improving operating environment has been underpinned by relatively stable Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) exchange rates, lower inflation, a strong agricultural season, rising mineral export earnings and government efforts to reduce smuggling, creating a more competitive landscape for formal businesses.

These factors have translated into stronger consumer demand, allowing businesses to compete for market share rather than simply adjusting prices to keep pace with inflation.

Delta Signals Consumer Recovery

Zimbabwe’s largest beverages manufacturer, Delta Corporation, offered one of the clearest indications that household consumption is recovering.

For the quarter ending 30 June 2026, Delta recorded a 14 percent increase in beverage volumes, with revenue rising 23 percent to US$294.6 million.

Unlike previous reporting periods, where revenue growth was largely inflation-driven, the latest performance reflected stronger underlying demand across multiple product categories.

Lager beer volumes increased by 17 percent, while traditional sorghum beer grew by 20 percent, driven by continued demand for Chibuku Super. African Distillers delivered the strongest performance within the group, recording a 43 percent increase in sales volumes as improved product availability, exchange rate stability and reduced informal market competition supported consumer spending.

Rather than treating the improvement as temporary, Delta has announced further investment in brewing and packaging capacity, including expansion projects at its Southerton and Belmont breweries.

Such capital expenditure typically reflects management’s confidence that demand will remain resilient over the medium term.

Hospitality Industry Regains Momentum

The recovery is also becoming evident within Zimbabwe’s hospitality sector.

Rainbow Tourism Group (RTG) reported a 29 percent increase in first-half revenue, supported by improving hotel occupancy, stronger business travel and growing tourism activity.

Occupancy levels reached 55 percent, while revenue per available room continued to improve.

The company is complementing the recovery through refurbishment programmes and regional expansion initiatives, including plans to redevelop its Cape Town property into an internationally branded hotel.

The strategy signals a renewed emphasis on growth rather than cost containment.

Manufacturing Confidence Returns

Manufacturing businesses are similarly positioning themselves for higher demand.

Star Africa has indicated that recent operational restructuring and investment in production equipment are expected to support stronger volumes over the coming year.

The company is also exploring export opportunities while anticipating continued support from stronger performance in Zimbabwe’s mining and agricultural sectors, which have injected additional liquidity into the domestic economy.

Although management continues to monitor external risks—including geopolitical uncertainty, energy costs and taxation—the company’s outlook reflects growing confidence in Zimbabwe’s economic trajectory.

A Shift Towards Real Growth

Investment analyst Enock Rukarwa believes the latest corporate updates represent an important structural change in Zimbabwe’s economic recovery.

As quoted by The Herald, Rukarwa observed: “What is particularly encouraging is that companies are now talking about volume growth instead of simply reporting revenue growth created by inflation.”

He added that exchange rate stability is encouraging both consumers and businesses to make longer-term decisions with greater confidence.

“When consumers have confidence that prices and exchange rates will remain relatively stable, purchasing decisions improve. Businesses can plan production more efficiently, manage inventories better and invest with greater certainty.”

According to Rukarwa, the willingness of companies to commit fresh investment into expanding production capacity demonstrates growing confidence that demand is becoming more sustainable rather than temporary.

Looking Ahead

While businesses remain alert to policy, taxation and global economic risks, Zimbabwe’s corporate sector appears increasingly optimistic that macroeconomic stability is beginning to translate into sustainable commercial growth.

For investors, the significance lies not simply in stronger earnings but in a broader shift towards productive investment, capacity expansion and rising consumer demand—developments that are often regarded as leading indicators of a strengthening economy.

Whether this momentum can be maintained will depend on continued policy consistency and macroeconomic stability. Nevertheless, recent corporate trading updates suggest Zimbabwe’s formal business sector is entering one of its most confident periods in several years, with companies increasingly positioning themselves for growth rather than merely resilience.

The post Zimbabwe’s Corporate Sector Bets on Growth as Business Confidence Strengthens appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

The US is pushing to secure a role for American companies in a $12.5 billion Ethiopian Airlines airport project. Washington is seeking greater commercial and infrastructure influence in Africa, where China now has a stronger presence.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa Mark Mitchell described Bishoftu International Airport as a “transformative” project during a virtual briefing in Addis Ababa.

“Across agencies… the Department of Commerce has closely engaged in pushing to secure strong United States participation,” he said after talks with Ethiopian Airlines officials.

Mitchell did not identify potential companies or contracts, but said US involvement could result in “more Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines.” Ethiopian Airlines agreed in April to purchase six additional Boeing 787-9s.

Construction began in January about 40 km southeast of Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines says the first phase will be completed in 2030 and handle 60 million passengers annually. Capacity is expected to reach 110 million when fully developed, making it Africa’s largest airport.

The project is intended to accommodate the state-owned carrier’s rapid expansion. Ethiopian Airlines reported a 20% increase in revenue to a record $9.1 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to the Ethiopian News Agency. It transported 20.7 million passengers and added nine aircraft and four international routes. The carrier now operates more than 170 planes and serves 150 international destinations.

The US is pushing to secure a role for American companies in a $12.5 billion Ethiopian Airlines airport project. Washington is seeking greater commercial and infrastructure influence in Africa, where China now has a stronger presence.

US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for the Middle East and Africa Mark Mitchell described Bishoftu International Airport as a “transformative” project during a virtual briefing in Addis Ababa.

“Across agencies… the Department of Commerce has closely engaged in pushing to secure strong United States participation,” he said after talks with Ethiopian Airlines officials.

Mitchell did not identify potential companies or contracts, but said US involvement could result in “more Boeing aircraft powered by GE Aerospace engines.” Ethiopian Airlines agreed in April to purchase six additional Boeing 787-9s.

Construction began in January about 40 km southeast of Addis Ababa. Ethiopian Airlines says the first phase will be completed in 2030 and handle 60 million passengers annually. Capacity is expected to reach 110 million when fully developed, making it Africa’s largest airport.

The project is intended to accommodate the state-owned carrier’s rapid expansion. Ethiopian Airlines reported a 20% increase in revenue to a record $9.1 billion in the 2025-2026 fiscal year, according to the Ethiopian News Agency. It transported 20.7 million passengers and added nine aircraft and four international routes. The carrier now operates more than 170 planes and serves 150 international destinations.

Under a financing mandate signed last August, the African Development Bank plans to provide a $500 million loan and lead efforts to mobilize $8.7 billion for Bishoftu.

The US initiative comes as Washington competes with Beijing for trade, technology, and infrastructure cooperation in Africa. Ethiopian business newspaper Addis Fortune reported in January that China Communications Construction Company and Beijing Urban Construction Group were conducting initial site clearing and groundwork at Bishoftu.

Ethiopian Airlines has separately confirmed on its website that several Chinese firms and joint ventures were shortlisted to bid for the airport’s main construction and infrastructure packages.

The push comes despite lingering trade tensions. Ethiopia remains excluded from the US African Growth and Opportunity Act program after Washington suspended its eligibility in 2022, citing human rights violations during the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

RT News

Under a financing mandate signed last August, the African Development Bank plans to provide a $500 million loan and lead efforts to mobilize $8.7 billion for Bishoftu.

The US initiative comes as Washington competes with Beijing for trade, technology, and infrastructure cooperation in Africa. Ethiopian business newspaper Addis Fortune reported in January that China Communications Construction Company and Beijing Urban Construction Group were conducting initial site clearing and groundwork at Bishoftu.

Ethiopian Airlines has separately confirmed on its website that several Chinese firms and joint ventures were shortlisted to bid for the airport’s main construction and infrastructure packages.

The push comes despite lingering trade tensions. Ethiopia remains excluded from the US African Growth and Opportunity Act program after Washington suspended its eligibility in 2022, citing human rights violations during the conflict in northern Ethiopia.

RT News

The post US wants stake in Africa’s largest airport appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Sunday that FIFA President Gianni Infantino was not the right man to lead world soccer’s governing body in the latest fallout from the now abandoned plan to sell stakes in the World Cup to private investors.

“I do not believe that he is the right man to lead football forward on the world stage,” Burnham said. “The plan that was put forward was offensive to many people, football people, around the world, and it can’t be the case that we just move on and forget that, it wasn’t acceptable.”

On Saturday, European soccer’s governing body UEFA said it had lost confidence in FIFA’s leadership — possibly paving the way for a challenge to Infantino’s presidency. The governing body for North and Central American and Caribbean soccer (CONCACAF) said FIFA leadership had “stopped putting football first.”

Infantino was forced into a backdown over his controversial plans to sell World Cup profits through a commercial subsidiary that would run its top competitions.

Infantino’s plans fell apart after UEFA’s 55-member nations agreed Thursday to boycott the World Cup and all other FIFA competitions. CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation also said they opposed the plan.

Despite Infantino’s climbdown, UEFA said it would work with other confederations to “devise a plan to make sure that it cannot occur again.”

“No option should be off the table,” it said.

While Infantino has received pockets of public support from associations including 2022 World Cup host Qatar, Burnham’s words were further evidence of the anger generated by his plans.

The next FIFA presidential election is in March in Rabat, Morocco. The deadline for candidates to enter the presidential contest is Nov. 18, exactly four months ahead of the vote.

Source: AP

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