Man’s Three-Year Ordeal: A Husband’s Cry for Help Amidst Domestic Abuse Claims in Mutare Mutare – In a deeply unsettling case that has emerged from Chief Mutasa’s court, a Mutare man, Lloyd Samanyanga, has bravely come forward to deta…
Man’s Three-Year Ordeal: A Husband’s Cry for Help Amidst Domestic Abuse Claims in Mutare Mutare – In a deeply unsettling case that has emerged from Chief Mutasa’s court, a Mutare man, Lloyd Samanyanga, has bravely come forward to detail a harrowing three-year ordeal of alleged domestic abuse at the hands of his wife, Dorcas Dzvairo. […]
The Two-Husband Dilemma: Inside the Rare World of Zimbabwean Polyandry MUTARE — The dust outside Chief Zimunya’s traditional court does not settle easily. It hangs in the humid air, much like the heavy silence that fell over the gathered villager…
The Two-Husband Dilemma: Inside the Rare World of Zimbabwean Polyandry MUTARE — The dust outside Chief Zimunya’s traditional court does not settle easily. It hangs in the humid air, much like the heavy silence that fell over the gathered villagers when 18-year-old Tanatswa Muhomba took her seat before the elders last Saturday. In a country […]
Source: New Bill to make performance contracts legally binding – herald Lincoln Towindo Deputy National Editor THE Government is preparing new legislation that will legally bind ministries, departments and agencies to meet performance targets, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability and accelerate the improvement of service delivery. The proposed Government Performance and Results Bill […]
THE Government is preparing new legislation that will legally bind ministries, departments and agencies to meet performance targets, in a move aimed at strengthening accountability and accelerate the improvement of service delivery.
The proposed Government Performance and Results Bill will give legal effect to performance contracts, mandate regular reporting and independent evaluations, and establish enforcement mechanisms for non-performance, Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Martin Rushwaya has said.
The proposed legislation is expected to strengthen the Government’s Integrated Results-Based Management framework by moving performance management from an administrative system to one backed by law.
Speaking during the High-Level Forum on Public Sector Reforms and Transformation (Tripartite) workshop in Kadoma last week, Dr Rushwaya said the Government had already made significant progress in institutionalising a performance management culture.
This follows the introduction of performance contracts for senior public officials in 2021. However, he said the next phase of reforms required a robust legal framework to broaden the scope of performance contracting, strengthen accountability and ensure sustained improvements in public sector performance.
“To sustain these gains, there is a need to broaden the coverage of performance contracts, strengthen accountability for non-performance and support the system through the promulgation of an appropriate legislative framework,” he said.
“In this regard, the proposed Government Performance and Results Bill is expected to reinforce results-based management.”
The proposed law, he added, will provide legal recognition for performance contracts, clearly define institutional roles and responsibilities, in line with Integrated Results-Based Management principles, require periodic reporting and independent evaluations, and introduce enforcement measures against non-performance.
“A Government Performance and Results Act will provide the following: give legal effect to performance contracting; clarify institutional roles and responsibilities guided by the Integrated Results-Based Management principles; mandate periodic reporting and independent evaluations; and stablish enforcement mechanisms for non-performance.”
At present, Cabinet Ministers, Permanent Secretaries and heads of Government agencies already sign annual performance contracts with the President.
These set out targets they are expected to achieve during the year.
However, these contracts are largely administrative instruments, with their authority deriving from executive policy rather than an Act of Parliament.
It is envisaged that under the proposed law, performance contracts would have statutory backing. Every ministry, department and agency (MDA) would be legally required to prepare, implement and report against agreed performance targets.
The law would also prescribe how contracts are developed, monitored and reviewed. The practical effect of the proposed law is that performance contracts would no longer be optional management tools but legal instruments that every public institution must comply with.
Furthermore, instead of reporting only at the end of the year, ministries would likely be required by law to submit regular performance reports — perhaps quarterly or bi-annually — to the Office of the President and Cabinet and other oversight bodies.
These reports would measure progress against agreed targets using predefined indicators.
This way, the Government would be able to identify implementation problems much earlier instead of waiting until projects have failed. The Bill also proposes independent evaluations, meaning assessments conducted by entities outside the institution being evaluated. These could include the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Public Service Commission, external auditors, independent evaluators or other authorised bodies.
These evaluations would determine whether reported achievements are accurate and whether programmes are delivering the intended outcomes.
It is believed that this would introduce an additional layer of accountability by reducing the risk of ministries overstating their achievements.
The establishment of enforcement mechanisms for non-performance will arguably be the most significant aspect of the proposed legislation. At present, performance contracts rely largely on administrative oversight.
The Bill proposes legal enforcement for persistent failure to meet agreed targets.
While Dr Rushwaya did not specify what these enforcement mechanisms would be, the law is expected to establish a formal framework for dealing with non-performance once its provisions are enacted.
In essence, the proposed Bill will ensure that Government institutions are judged not by the activities they undertake, but by the measurable results they deliver.
Dr Rushwaya said the independent evaluation of the performance contracting during the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) cycle had confirmed its effectiveness and provided lessons that would strengthen implementation under NDS2.
The proposed legislation forms part of broader public sector reforms that the Government believes are necessary to improve policy implementation and service delivery.
Better policy coordination
Dr Rushwaya acknowledged that despite notable progress, public institutions continued to face challenges including overlapping mandates, duplication of responsibilities, weak coordination, resource misallocation and conflicting policy positions among ministries.
He said these institutional weaknesses had, at times, undermined policy implementation and created confusion for businesses and the public.
“It is the President’s prerogative to assign the administration of Acts to ministers in line with Section 104(1) of the Constitution,” he said.
“However, as societal needs and expectations evolve, new demands emerge which may seem to obliterate the clear lines of intervention as stated in the various pieces of legislation. Resultantly, duplications and overlapping mandates leading to misallocation of resources, poor coordination and turf wars have been noted.”
To address these challenges, Dr Rushwaya said the Government intended to strengthen policy coordination through the Office of the President and Cabinet, the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
He said the Government is also pursuing a series of complementary reforms designed to improve public sector efficiency.
These include developing an integrated Government Delivery Dashboard to monitor implementation of national programmes in real time, establishing a Citizen Engagement Platform through which the public will assess the performance of ministries and other Government agencies, introducing governance scorecards informed by citizen feedback and creating an early warning and rapid response system to identify and address service delivery bottlenecks before they escalate.
The Government also plans to expand digital transformation across the public sector through interoperable e-Government systems, online public services and data-driven decision-making, while promoting joint performance contracts among ministries to improve coordination and eliminate duplication.
Dr Rushwaya said these reforms were intended to ensure that Government institutions focused on measurable outcomes rather than simply completing activities, enabling the public sector to deliver tangible improvements in citizens’ lives.
Source: Zim pays US$40m for 93 BIPPA farms as compensation programme gathers pace – herald Tawanda Musarurwa NINETY-THREE Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA)-protected farms have now received compensation from the Government, with 16 fully paid up and 77 receiving partial payments, as the authorities press ahead with a US$130,5 million programme covering claimants […]
NINETY-THREE Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreement (BIPPA)-protected farms have now received compensation from the Government, with 16 fully paid up and 77 receiving partial payments, as the authorities press ahead with a US$130,5 million programme covering claimants from five nations.
The latest report on the Structured Dialogue Platform’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process shows the Netherlands as the largest beneficiary, with 44 farms — six fully compensated and 38 partially paid — receiving US$20,1 million.
Switzerland follows with 27 farms (four fully paid and 23 partially compensated) worth US$11,9 million, while Germany’s claimants have received US$4,8 million across 14 farms.
Denmark’s seven farms — all partially paid — account for US$2,8 million, and a single farm linked to the former Yugoslavia has received US$400 000.
The payments cover farmers from Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the former Yugoslavia whose properties were affected during the 2000 Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.
The compensation process began in May 2024 when the Government invited applications from BIPPA farmers affected by the Land Reform Programme. The Land Compensation Committee subsequently verified and approved the claims.Initially, 97 farms were deemed to be eligible for compensation, but four, which had not been occupied, were later withdrawn after their owners opted for restoration of title. Overall, the 93 farms had a combined claim worth US$130,5 million.
Ten farms worth US$1,9 million were fully compensated during the 2024 cycle.
Last year, six more farms totalling US$2,3 million received full compensation, taking the tally of fully paid farms to 16, with 77 more receiving partial payments.
The Government has structured the arrangement so that the yearly Treasury allocation for BIPPA compensation is shared equally among qualifying claimants.
The formula was agreed through the Land Tenure Reforms, the Compensation of Former Farm Owners (FFOs) process and the Resolution of the BIPPAs Sector Working Group. While US$40 has already been paid, the Government allocated a further US$20 million in the 2026 National Budget for the programme.
It has, however, committed to clearing the remaining US$70,5 million owed to BIPPA-protected investors through annual allocations in the 2027 and 2028 budgets.
Deputy Chief Secretary in the Office of the President and Cabinet Dr Willard Manungo, who is the co-chairperson of the Land Reforms Pillar of the Structured Dialogue Platform’s Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, said the payments indicate that Zimbabwe was committed to “honouring international agreements”.
“The consistent fulfilment of our farmer compensation obligations serves as a clear testament to the world that Zimbabwe is a reliable partner committed to honouring international agreements,” Dr Manungo said.
“This momentum creates the necessary credibility for our full reintegration into the global financial architecture, unlocking new windows for investment and restoring our standing within the international community.”
The compensation programme has also become one of the central pillars of Zimbabwe’s broader Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Process, where land reform, economic reforms and governance reforms are being pursued in parallel to rebuild confidence with international creditors and investors. Together with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Staff-Monitored Programme, governance reforms and efforts to clear arrears with international financial institutions, the compensation framework is intended to demonstrate Zimbabwe’s commitment to honouring its constitutional and international obligations — a key step towards restoring access to concessional finance, restructuring external debt and reintegrating the country into the global financial system.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) resident representative Dr Ayodele Odusola, who is also co-chairperson of the Land Reforms Pillar, welcomed the Government’s re-engagement drive.
“UNDP has seen Zimbabwe’s land dialogue shift from entrenched positions to constructive engagement among Government, farmers and stakeholders,” Dr Odusola said.
He also commended milestones such as the 1 percent cash and coupon payments worth US$10 million under the Global Compensation Deed (GCD), as well as the 12,5 percent stake in Kuvimba Mine set aside for white former farm owners.
“Land reform remains central to agricultural transformation, food security and unlocking long-term financing for Zimbabwe’s development,” he said.
A Danish BIPPA-protected farmer, Ms Lisa Nislev, described the moment she received her payment as “unbelievable”.
The first two partial payments, she said, brought her mother “a sense of relief and closure after many years of uncertainty”.
Similarly, former Switzerland Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Stéphanie Rey, who previously served on the Land Reform Pillar, described the compensation programme as historic.
“The results are formidable. What we have achieved collectively, and what the Government of Zimbabwe has delivered, is nothing short of historic,” he said.
Payments to white former commercial farmers
The Government has also committed to compensate white former commercial farmers through the GCD, a US$3,5 billion agreement signed in July 2020 to compensate for infrastructural improvements on land acquired during the 2000 Fast-Track Land Reform Programme.
Under the framework, the claimants receive a cash payment of 1 percent of the agreed compensation amount, with the remaining 99 percent paid in Treasury Bonds carrying maturities of one to 10 years and a 2 percent coupon paid twice annually, all denominated in United States dollars.
As of June 10 this year, 965 applications had been approved for compensation under the GCD, with further farms at various stages of the application and verification process.
Batch 1, comprising 378 farms, received its 1 percent upfront payment and Treasury Bonds in April 2025 and has since received two Treasury Bond interest payments plus the maturity value of its one-year bonds.
Batch 2’s 245 farms were paid in October 2025 and have received one interest payment, while Batch 3’s 253 farms were paid in March 2026 and are due their first interest payment in September.
Batch 4, consisting of 89 farms, is still awaiting its upfront payment and bond issuance, while a fifth batch of applications remains under review.
According to the chairperson of the Compensation Steering Committee, Mr Andrew Pascoe, the Government has met all its commitments since payments began in March last year.
“Since payments began in March 2025, Government has met all its commitments,” Mr Pascoe said.
“Whilst there have been many challenges in ensuring that the payment processes run smoothly, align with Government protocols and meet the required timelines, I am happy to report that we have been able to work together with our counterparts in Government to overcome these challenges.”
Source: Matabeleland gets irrigation boost ahead of ‘Super’ El Niño drought – herald Theseus Mauruki Shambare MATABELAND North and Matabeleland South provinces are set for a major irrigation boost, with 338 hectares under rehabilitation through five strategic irrigation schemes financed under the Grain Levy as Government ramps up efforts to shield drought-prone communities from the […]
Theseus Mauruki Shambare
MATABELAND North and Matabeleland South provinces are set for a major irrigation boost, with 338 hectares under rehabilitation through five strategic irrigation schemes financed under the Grain Levy as Government ramps up efforts to shield drought-prone communities from the projected 2026/27 Super El Niño-induced dry spell.
According to an by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) progress report, Matabeleland North and Matabeleland South account for five irrigation schemes covering a combined 338 hectares.
The 45-hectare Hlauke Irrigation Scheme in Matabeleland North has reached 98 percent completion, with farmers already irrigating while final works are being completed ahead of official handover.
Rehabilitation of the 180-hectare Bubi-Lupane Irrigation Scheme has reached 70 percent completion, with all three centre pivots already operational following refurbishment of pumping units.
In Matabeleland South, the 50-hectare Mtshabezi Irrigation Scheme is 74 percent complete, while the 32-hectare Portbury Irrigation Scheme has reached 95 percent completion, with commissioning preparations now underway. Procurement has also commenced for the 21-hectare Billi and 10-hectare Homme irrigation schemes.
With recurrent droughts continuing to threaten agricultural production in Matabeleland, the rehabilitation programme is expected to expand year-round irrigation farming, improve household food security and strengthen rural livelihoods, positioning communities to better withstand the forecast El Niño-induced dry spell.
The irrigation projects form part of a nationwide programme being implemented by AMA, which is rehabilitating 24 irrigation schemes covering 1 796 hectares under the Agricultural Marketing Fund to enhance food security, improve agricultural productivity and strengthen climate resilience.
The Agricultural Marketing Fund is financed through the Grain Levy introduced under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025. Collected by AMA on imported grain, the levy was established to fund strategic agricultural investments, including irrigation rehabilitation, market development and initiatives aimed at reducing Zimbabwe’s dependence on grain imports.
The accelerated rollout comes as Government intensifies preparations for the anticipated Super El Niño weather phenomenon, which meteorological experts say could bring below-normal rainfall across Southern Africa during the 2026/27 summer cropping season.
Last week, President Mnangagwa urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agriculture by planting early maturing and drought-tolerant crop varieties to safeguard household food security.
“I, therefore, urge us to plant early maturing and drought-resistant crops to bolster household food security,” said the President.
He said Government would continue implementing measures to mitigate the impact of the expected drought while encouraging provinces to work closely with agriculture, mechanisation and water authorities to strengthen climate-smart farming and agro-processing initiatives.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Professor Obert Jiri said irrigation expansion remains one of the key pillars of Government’s drought mitigation strategy.
“We now have the summer plan, which we are busy implementing. In terms of our summer programme, we are targeting 1,8 million hectares of maize and more than 500 000 hectares of traditional grains, together with other strategic crops that we normally produce,” said Prof Jiri.
“We are planning on five fronts and of course, the sixth front is coordination and early warning.”
He said the strategy also focuses on strengthening the Strategic Grain Reserve, expanding Pfumvudza/Intwasa and traditional grain production and promoting climate-smart seed varieties suited to different agro-ecological regions.
More than US$3,2 million and ZiG29 million have already been invested in irrigation development through the Agricultural Marketing Fund.
AMA marketing and public relations manager Ms Tina Nleya said the programme was delivering tangible results across the country, with Matabeleland among the priority regions.
“So far, we have managed to rehabilitate 24 irrigation schemes covering 1 796 hectares of land and Matabeleland provinces have been prioritised to ensure we leave no place behind. Most irrigation schemes are 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.”
Ms Nleya said the Grain Levy has created a sustainable financing mechanism for irrigation development while enabling AMA to aggregate production and secure structured markets for farmers.
