Category: zimbabwe

HARARE – A Harare resident has filed an urgent High Court application seeking to halt the further installation of prepaid water meters across the city, arguing that the City of Harare and its private partner are operating without legal authority, in breach of the city’s own water by-laws.

She also accuses the city of violating the Administrative Justice Act through its failure to consult residents before imposing a fundamentally new system of water supply.

The case could derail the government’s plans to extend the prepaid metering model to Bulawayo and other cities nationwide.

Bernaddete Makaya, a ratepayer from Mabelreign, is represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR). She cited the City of Harare, the minister of local government and public works, and Helcraw Water, a Southerton-based private company, as respondents in her June 3 application.

Helcraw Water has been contracted to implement the prepaid meter project across Harare. The company is owned by Farai Jere, a Zanu PF member of parliament, raising questions about the procurement process through which the company secured its partnership with the City of Harare.

If it succeeds, it would not only suspend the Harare rollout but effectively block the government’s reported plan to impose the same prepaid metering model in Bulawayo, which is understood to be next in line for the programme.

In her founding affidavit, Makaya states that the City of Harare, acting in partnership with Helcraw Water, began installing prepaid water meters across Harare sometime in 2025. The rollout reached the Sunridge area of Mabelreign in 2026, when a meter was installed at her residence.

“Since the installation of the pre-paid water meter, I discovered that if I do not purchase credit for water my taps run dry and the water does stop running at my house,” she deposes.

Makaya further says the meter is enclosed in a locked black box fitted outside the house, making it impossible for residents to verify the accuracy of readings – a problem compounded by frequent water cuts in the area. The system offers only a small in-house monitor that displays the water credit balance when the digits 11 are pressed.

She contends the prepaid system is the “complete opposite” of the post-payment system that previously governed water supply in Harare, under which residents received water first and were billed afterwards, either by estimate or for actual consumption over a given period, usually a month.

The legal challenge rests on three grounds. First, Makaya argues that neither the Urban Councils Act nor the Harare Water By-Laws of 1913 authorise a prepaid water distribution system. Both instruments, she says, provide only for a post-paid system.

The introduction of prepaid meters therefore lacks any legal instrument to support it and is ultra vires the existing regulatory framework.

Second, Makaya argues the prepaid system violates the mandatory 24-hour written disconnection notice requirement enshrined in section 69(2)(e) of the Third Schedule to the Urban Councils Act and Clause 8(a) of the Standard Form Contract for Water Supplies, which forms part of the Harare Water By-Laws. Under the prepaid system, water is cut off automatically the moment a consumer’s credit is exhausted, with no prior written notice delivered physically or by registered post as required under section 61 of the by-laws.

“The water supplies are just disconnected when the water credit is exhausted,” she states, adding that the ability to check a balance on a monitor “does not amount and suffice to the written notice which is required in terms of law.”

Third, Makaya invokes the Administrative Justice Act directly, arguing that the City of Harare and Helcraw Water, as administrative authorities, failed in their duty to act lawfully under section 3 of the Act. This includes the failure to consult affected residents before rolling out a system that fundamentally altered how water is supplied, metered, and disconnected across the city – replacing a post-paid model residents had operated under for decades with a prepaid one, without any public participation process or prior notification.

The system also fails to provide statements of account in relation to water consumption as required under section 49 of the Harare Water By-Laws, a further ground of unlawfulness cited in the affidavit.

The draft order seeks a suspension of all further prepaid meter installations by the City of Harare and Helcraw Water, and an order directing the city and the minister to promulgate by-laws governing a prepaid water metering system within three months. The draft proposes no order as to costs. – ZimLive

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LONDON – A London local authority has taken back a two-bedroom social housing flat previously rented by Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Fatima Jabbe-Bio, following a year-long investigation into whether the property remained her primary residence.

The decision by Southwark Council to repossess the Walworth-based property marks the end of a tenancy that began in 2007 and has drawn public attention due to the tenant’s high-profile political status and long-term absence from the UK home.

According to reporting cited by Business Insider Africa, the council concluded its investigation into whether Jabbe-Bio had breached tenancy rules requiring occupants to use the property as their “only or principal home” and to notify authorities of extended absences exceeding 42 days.

Jabbe-Bio, 46, reportedly stopped living in the flat in 2018 after her husband, Julius Maada Bio, was elected president of Sierra Leone. Since then, the couple have resided at the Presidential Lodge in Freetown, the official state residence.

Southwark Council confirmed it had taken possession of the property following what it described as a 12-month housing investigation.

“We can confirm we have taken possession of a property in Walworth following a 12-month investigation by our housing investigations team,” said Reginald Popoola, Southwark’s executive member for council homes.

The council did not disclose full details of its findings or whether the tenancy was surrendered voluntarily. However, it confirmed that the property would now be reassigned to applicants on its social housing waiting list.

“I look forward to bringing this council property back to its original purpose, which is to provide a safe and secure home for people with legitimate housing need on the council’s waiting list,” Popoola added.

Under Southwark tenancy rules, council tenants are required to occupy their homes as their primary residence and inform the authority if they are absent for extended periods. The council also conducts routine compliance checks to prevent misuse of subsidised housing stock.

Jabbe-Bio has denied wrongdoing, insisting she continued paying rent and maintained ties to the United Kingdom, where her children reportedly hold citizenship.

“My children are all British citizens. I’m paying for my council house myself. I have not committed any crime,” she told the BBC.

No criminal charges have been brought against her, and the council has not suggested any finding of fraud or unlawful activity. The case centres instead on whether the occupancy rules governing social housing were breached.

The repossession comes amid mounting pressure on Britain’s social housing system. According to local housing data referenced by Business Insider Africa, more than 1.3 million households are currently on waiting lists in England, with London accounting for a significant share of unmet demand.

Southwark itself has more than 18,000 households on its housing register, alongside thousands more in temporary accommodation, highlighting the scale of housing shortages in the capital.

Housing officials say councils are increasingly stepping up enforcement against suspected tenancy breaches, including long-term absences and subletting, in an effort to free up stock for residents in genuine need.

Southwark Council said it has recovered more than 100 homes over the past two years through investigations into suspected tenancy misuse and unlawful occupation.

The Walworth property, located in a residential area in south London, is estimated to be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds on the private market, though council tenants typically pay significantly below-market rents under subsidised housing schemes.

The case has also drawn attention due to Jabbe-Bio’s background. Born in Sierra Leone, she moved to the UK as a teenager in the 1990s and later built a career in film and media before meeting Maada Bio in London during his time in exile politics.

She became First Lady following his election victory in 2018, and he was re-elected for a second term in 2023.

While the council’s decision resolves the tenancy issue, it also highlights broader tensions facing London’s strained housing system, where limited supply continues to drive strict enforcement of eligibility and occupancy rules across social housing estates.

The post London council repossesses social housing flat linked to Sierra Leone First Lady after tenancy probe appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE – Zimbabwe is targeting a major shift in its export structure, aiming to nearly double manufactured exports to US$1 billion annually by 2030 as the government intensifies efforts to build a more industrialised, value-added and export-driven economy.

According to State media, the ambitious target marks a central pillar of the country’s long-term economic strategy under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which seek to reduce dependence on raw commodity exports and strengthen domestic manufacturing capacity.

According to data from ZimTrade, manufactured exports reached approximately US$584.8 million in 2025. The export basket includes iron and steel products, tobacco derivatives, clothing and textiles, as well as industrial chemicals.

Government officials say the objective is not only to expand export volumes but also to reposition Zimbabwe as a competitive manufacturing hub within regional and global value chains.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Ambassador Tadeous Chifamba, said the strategy is anchored on structural transformation of the economy from primary production to industrial output.

“Our target is bold, but in time it will be reached. We expect to scale up manufactured exports to achieve the benchmark contribution of at least US$1 billion annually by 2030,” he said.

Ambassador Chifamba said Zimbabwe can no longer rely on commodity exports, arguing that long-term growth depends on increasing the production of finished goods and integrating into higher-value global supply chains.

“We cannot remain an economy that predominantly exports raw materials,” he said. “We must fundamentally transition from a commodity-based economy into a high-value, innovation and knowledge-driven economy powered by intense industrial investment.”

The export expansion strategy forms part of broader efforts to increase the manufacturing sector’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) to at least 25% by 2030, up from about 16% currently.

To support this transition, government is preparing to roll out the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP 2), which will prioritise increased production capacity, improved competitiveness, modernisation of industrial equipment and stronger export performance.

Officials say the policy will also address long-standing structural bottlenecks in the manufacturing sector, including high production costs, inconsistent power supply, ageing machinery and logistical inefficiencies that have constrained output and competitiveness.

Ambassador Chifamba said government is also pushing an aggressive value-addition agenda across strategic sectors such as iron and steel, leather, sugar and agro-processing, with a clear policy shift away from exporting raw and semi-processed commodities.

“The Ministry is heading a massive structural shift built upon value addition and energy sharing, moving production systems away from primary raw extraction and up the value-added inputs of this sector,” he said.

The policy direction is closely aligned with Zimbabwe’s participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area, which presents expanded market opportunities for locally manufactured goods across the continent.

At present, Zimbabwe’s export profile remains heavily skewed towards primary commodities, particularly minerals and agricultural produce, leaving the economy vulnerable to global price volatility and external demand shocks.

Government argues that strengthening domestic manufacturing will not only stabilise export earnings but also generate employment, attract investment and improve foreign currency inflows.

Industry stakeholders have broadly welcomed the policy direction, although they stress that execution will be critical.

Chief executive officer of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), Sekai Kuvarika, said Zimbabwe’s industrial strategy must evolve beyond competitiveness towards deeper industrial upgrading and export leadership in selected sectors.

“Our industrialisation strategy is built around three stages: improving competitiveness, upgrading industry and achieving leadership in selected export markets,” she said.

She added that stronger public-private collaboration will be essential in translating policy frameworks into measurable industrial outcomes, pointing to successful models in other African economies.

Experts say Zimbabwe’s success in reaching the US$1 billion manufactured export target will depend on sustained investment in energy, transport infrastructure, industrial finance, and technology upgrading, alongside consistent policy implementation.

As global trade dynamics shift and regional integration under AfCFTA deepens, Zimbabwe’s industrial strategy is increasingly framed as a race to move up the value chain — from exporting raw materials to competing as a producer of finished, higher-value goods in regional and global markets.

The post Zimbabwe targets US$1 billion in manufactured exports as industrialisation drive accelerates appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

Radio legend Thato Sikwane, popularly known as DJ Fresh, in July joins Kaya 959, formerly known as Kaya FM 95.9.

DJ Fresh joined Kaya 959, after abruptly leaving radio station 938 Radio.

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During an episode of his podcast “What a Week”, DJ Fresh discussed what led to his sudden exit.

DJ Fresh clarified that he does not own the radio station, despite there being a narrative that he and Unathi Nkayi started one. He shared that he did have equity as part of his contract, but it wasn’t an amount to make noise about.

“938 did not go according to everything that we had been promised would happen. That’s why it eventually became easy to actually walk away.

DJ Fresh reflected that it was a necessary journey that allowed him to reconnect with his long-time on-air collaborator and trusted producer, Thato Mataboge.

He revealed that there were severe financial struggles within the company, which left staff members unpaid for months.

“The thing is, things got to a point where staff were not getting paid, and because I’ve got gigs that I do, that kind of helps. I have savings that I could dip into that kind of helped. But when you reach a point where you’ve not been paid for so many months that it stops making financial sense to still show up. That’s where I was at.”

DJ Fresh explained that his love for radio led him to ignore his inner voice, which told him to cut the cord until things would be clear on the company’s cash flow.

“We weren’t getting paid, and we got sick and tired of not getting paid. In fact, people still haven’t been paid. I’m still waiting for a couple of months. In fact, more than a couple of months of payment, and still we wait.”

DJ Fresh replaces Sizwe Dhlomo on Kaya 95.9 breakfast. Currently, Thomas Msengana is hosting the slot after Dhlomo, who left a month before his contract ended – IOL.

The post DJ Fresh opens up about his departure from 938 Radio appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

TRAGEDY IN THE LOWVELD: NINE DEAD AS BUS CRUSHED AT CHIREDZI LEVEL CROSSING MASVINGO – The winter sun had only just begun to cast long, pale shadows across the sugar cane fields of Triangle when the silence of the Lowveld was shattered by the screech of grinding metal and the desperate roar of a locomotive’s […]

The post 9 people killed, 26 badly injured in train and bus accident as Masvingo journey ends in Makuku bus disaster first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.