Category: zimbabwe

HARARE – The Zimbabwe Newspapers Group (Zimpapers) is cutting 154 jobs after announcing mandatory retrenchments on Wednesday.

Most of the job losses are expected to be felt at its loss-making television division, Zimpapers Television Network (ZTN), insiders said.

Company executives met workers’ representatives in Harare on Wednesday, where the planned staff cuts were announced.

“They said 154 jobs will go in the first phase, which means more people will be forced out in the next phase,” an individual familiar with the discussions said.

Zimpapers, Zimbabwe’s biggest media group, employs more than 900 people across its newspapers, radio, television and printing divisions.

In a statement, the company said it was cutting jobs as it transitioned into a “digital-first organisation”, but did not disclose the number of positions affected.

Board chairperson Doreen Sibanda said the newspapers division would be realigned into a digital- and mobile-first operating structure.

“These changes require the reorganisation of operations, consolidation of functions, and optimisation of organisational structures,” she said.

“As a result, certain positions have become redundant within the revised operating model, and the company has commenced a retrenchment process in compliance with applicable labour laws and established human resources procedures.

“Zimpapers remains committed to treating all affected employees with fairness, dignity and respect throughout the process while continuing to deliver quality content and services to its audiences, advertisers, shareholders and other stakeholders.”

Zimpapers said it would immediately inform the National Employment Council and the Retrenchment Board of its decision, which would be followed by the affected workers being handed their retrenchment letters.

The restructuring has already resulted in changes to the group’s editorial management.

Sunday News editor Hatred Zenenga is now doubling up as editor of The Chronicle following the departure of Lawson Mabhena, who has taken up the position of head of news for all Zimpapers titles and based in Harare.

Zimpapers is facing the same structural pressures confronting newspaper companies globally, with declining print circulation and advertising revenues as audiences increasingly consume news online.

Its expansion into television through ZTN has added to the financial strain. The capital-intensive operation has accumulated substantial losses and has relied on subsidies from the group’s other divisions, according to insiders.

Zimpapers is listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange. The Zimbabwe Mass Media Trust, which is controlled by government, owns 51 percent. Other key shareholders include Old Mutual and investment companies linked to businessman Nicholas van Hoogstraten.

The company’s full-year financial results for 2025 showed a business in accelerating decline across all three operating divisions simultaneously.

Revenue fell 15.5 percent to ZWG 622.1 million from ZWG 736.5 million in 2024. Gross profit fell 26 percent to ZWG 300.8 million, with the gross margin contracting from 55.3 percent to 48.3 percent, a seven percentage point compression that indicates costs did not fall at the same rate as revenue.

The loss from operations widened from ZWG 17.3 million to ZWG 74.6 million, more than quadrupling in a single year. The loss before tax grew from ZWG 55.7 million to ZWG 96.3 million. The loss after tax, which benefited from a tax credit of ZWG 12.8 million, was ZWG 83.5 million, up from ZWG 21.7 million in 2024, a deterioration of 284 percent.

No division is carrying the group. The newspaper division, which is the group’s largest revenue contributor at ZWG 342.8 million, generated an operating loss of ZWG 10 million against an operating profit of ZWG 9.2 million in 2024, a swing of ZWG 19.2 million in a single year. L

Advertising volumes fell 14 percent as retail sector clients cut spend and shifted budgets toward digital platforms that Zimpapers has been investing in but has not yet monetised at scale.

The commercial printing segment is the most acute operational crisis in the group. Revenue fell 44 percent to ZWG 84.1 million from ZWG 152 million, and the division posted an operating loss of ZWG 35.1 million against ZWG 6.4 million in 2024.

The broadcasting division is the only segment that showed improvement, with revenue growing to ZWG 195.2 million and its operating loss narrowing from ZWG 23.1 million to ZWG 17.6 million, driven by a 45 percent growth in radio volumes even as ZTN volumes fell 35 percent.

Total liabilities increased to ZWG 342 million from ZWG 249.9 million, a 36.8 percent increase in a year when revenue fell 15.5 percent. Trade and other payables grew from ZWG 164.9 million to ZWG 230.4 million, a 40 percent increase. Within that total, accruals and other payables surged from ZWG 80.6 million to ZWG 141.7 million, an increase of ZWG 61.1 million or 75.8 percent, which is the largest single working capital movement in the results.

Cash at year end was ZWG 5.4 million, down from ZWG 11.2 million in 2024. The company also carries a bank overdraft of ZWG 4.6 million, which did not exist in 2024, and net borrowings from FBC Bank of ZWG 20.7 million at an interest rate of 19 per annum secured against land and buildings. Net operating cash generation fell from ZWG 29.9 million to ZWG 21.1 million. Capital expenditure was ZWG 24.6 million, driven by the digital transformation programme and machinery investments.

The combined effect is a company that generated ZWG 21 million from operations, spent ZWG 24.6 million on assets, and ended the year with ZWG 5.4 million in cash and a new overdraft facility. No dividend was declared, with the board citing the company’s subdued performance and the need to conserve working capital.

Source: Zimpapers to cut 154 jobs to stem losses, refocus on digital – Zimbabwe News Now

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BULAWAYO – Three in-laws of President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s son Collins have been denied bail for a third time, with a Bulawayo magistrate rejecting arguments that delays by prosecutors and police amounted to changed circumstances.

Amina Jassinta Jessub Arab, 47, her daughter Dyonne Tanaka Tafirenyika, 28, and their relative Noreen Jessub, 51, were remanded in custody to September 30 by Bulawayo regional magistrate Sibonginkosi Mnkandla.

Arab is the mother of Kelsea Tafirenyika, the 22-year-old second wife of Mnangagwa’s twin son. Kelsea was twice arrested in Harare on drugs charges and money laundering allegations before her release on bail.

The three are facing charges of dealing in dangerous drugs following their arrest at a lodge in Bulawayo’s Ilanda suburb on August 19.

They were initially denied bail by another magistrate, Taurai Manuwere, on August 24 and later lost an appeal before Justice Bongani Ndlovu of the Bulawayo High Court.

They returned to the magistrates court on Wednesday seeking bail on the basis of what their lawyer Admire Rubaya described as changed circumstances.

In their written application, filed on September 10, the three argued that more than 20 days had passed since their arrest without a trial date being set or state papers being served on them. They said police had indicated in the remand papers that investigations would be completed by September 2, but the deadline had passed without the case being trial-ready.

“The accused persons are languishing in prison while the state and police are dilly-dallying,” Rubaya said.

He argued that their continued detention was particularly difficult to justify because the National Prosecuting Authority’s case involved what he described as a “smash and grab” investigation, with many of the witnesses expected to be police officers.

But prosecutor Vhumani Moyo opposed the application, arguing that the defence had failed to demonstrate any new circumstances since the first bail application.

Moyo said the passage of 21 days was not, on its own, sufficient to constitute changed circumstances, particularly given the nature of the investigation.

He said forensic examination of the alleged cocaine was still in progress and that September 2 had merely been an estimated date for the completion of investigations rather than a binding deadline.

Moyo told the court that the forensic results had been received by prosecutors just before Wednesday’s court session and that the state intended to serve its papers on the accused on Thursday.

Rubaya challenged that assertion, saying the state had produced no evidence showing that the forensic results were actually in its possession.

“There is no evidence to show that the expert analysis is in their possession. We can’t take their word for it,” he said.

The defence also attacked the affidavits relied upon by the NPA to oppose bail, arguing that the documents had not been properly commissioned.

Rubaya said the stamp on the documents referred only to “the officer in charge CID drugs and narcotics” without clearly identifying the person who had administered the oath or establishing that he was a commissioner of oaths.

The bail application argued that the alleged affidavits were therefore invalid and should not have been relied upon by the state. Rubaya cited several previous High Court and Supreme Court decisions in support of that argument.

Rubaya further argued that the State had not produced scientific evidence establishing that the substances allegedly recovered from the women were dangerous drugs.

He argued that no field test, preliminary test or confirmatory laboratory analysis had been placed before the court at the initial bail hearing. The defence argued that there was also no evidence detailing the chain of custody of the alleged drugs.

The defence said this was a material development because the identity of the alleged substances was central to the charges.

The lawyers also disputed the alleged possession of the drugs, arguing that none of the substances had been found on the women’s persons.

Two sachets of alleged cocaine were found hidden inside a Nike shoe in Jessub’s room, while the substance allegedly recovered from Arab was in a small brown bag. In Tafirenyika’s case, the state alleges that drugs were found in a small handbag and a plastic bag containing pads.

The defence argued that lodge staff had access to the rooms for cleaning and that the possibility of the drugs having been planted could not be excluded.

Rubaya also challenged the prosecution’s concerns that the three could abscond because they did not ordinarily reside in Bulawayo.

He said they were Zimbabwean citizens with fixed addresses and offered to have them surrender their passports to the court. The draft bail order proposed a ZiG 1,000 deposit for each accused, weekly reporting to Hatfield Police Station in Harare and conditions barring them from interfering with state witnesses or investigations.

The defence also offered house arrest or other stringent conditions as alternatives to continued detention.

Rubaya said the three had co-operated with police since their arrest and that there was no evidence they had attempted to interfere with witnesses or investigations.

He argued that the state could address any concerns through strict bail conditions rather than continued incarceration.

Prosecutor Moyo maintained that the defence was effectively attempting to reopen matters already considered by Manuwere.

He also accused the defence of turning the bail proceedings into a mini-trial by raising allegations that the drugs could have been planted.

The state’s case is that police recovered cocaine from the rooms occupied by Jessub and Arab and cocaine and crystal methamphetamine from Tafirenyika’s room, together with US$53,055 in cash.

Manuwere, in tossing the first bail application, cited the seriousness of the charges, the possibility of custodial sentences and what he considered a risk of abscondment, including the women’s foreign properties, valid passports and access to substantial cash.

The defence’s new application insists that those concerns can be addressed through conditions, including surrender of passports, regular reporting and restrictions on movement. It says the women are prepared to comply with stringent conditions rather than remain in remand prison.

The three will remain in custody pending their next appearance on September 30. Rubaya said he would file another appeal at the High Court.

Source: Mnangagwa son’s in-laws held on drugs charges denied bail a third time – Zimbabwe News Now

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The Netherlands will close its embassy in Harare as part of a wider restructuring of its global diplomatic network, which will see five missions shut and new ones opened elsewhere.

The announcement was made on Tuesday, 15 September, on the official X account of the Embassy of the Netherlands in Zimbabwe.

According to a more detailed statement published on the Dutch government’s website, the embassies in Tripoli (Libya), Bujumbura (Burundi) and Yangon (Myanmar), along with the consulate-general in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), will close as previously announced, in addition to the embassy in Harare.

The Dutch government said its interests in these countries would in future be represented by embassies in neighbouring states.

In its post announcing the Harare closure, the Dutch mission acknowledged the impact of the decision locally.

“We recognise that this is significant news for our partners and friends in Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi, given the many strong relationships we have built over the years,” it said.

The mission, which covers all three countries from Harare, added that the decision formed part of a broader restructuring and “does not change our appreciation for the close ties or our commitment to working with the respective governments and other partners across the region.”

It said it remained focused on “ensuring a careful transition towards closure and continued cooperation.”

The closures form part of a wider rebalancing of the Dutch diplomatic network. The government said it was allocating €35 million towards strengthening its network of embassies and consulates — effectively halving an earlier planned reduction of €70 million to the network’s budget.

It said that the additional funding will be used to open new embassies and invest in existing missions.

As part of this expansion, the government said it would explore the possibility of eventually opening embassies in Podgorica, Montenegro, and Windhoek, Namibia, in collaboration with Belgium and Luxembourg.

Elsewhere, in view of Dutch interests relating to migration, security and stability, diplomatic presence in Damascus will be intensified, while the planned closure of the embassy in Juba, South Sudan, has been reversed in light of the ongoing humanitarian situation there.

Source: Netherlands to close Harare embassy as part of global diplomatic restructuring ⋆ Pindula News

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Nqobile Bhebhe

Zimpapers Business Hub

The high cost of regulatory compliance is an albatross around the neck of local industry, prompting the Government to intensify reforms to make the business environment more predictable, efficient and investment-friendly.

Regulatory compliance accounts for an estimated 18 percent of production costs.

This comes as Zimbabwe has implemented 61 percent of the approved business regulatory reforms across 12 key economic sectors as of mid-2026.

The Government continues to cut compliance costs and remove extra red tape for local companies.

According to Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Ambassador Tadius Chifamba, the regulatory burden can undermine the private sector’s capacity to drive industrialisation, innovation and investment, making regulatory reform a critical component of the country’s competitiveness agenda.

Addressing the National Competitiveness Commission (NCC) Second Competitiveness Summit in Bulawayo yesterday, Ambassador Chifamba said the Government was seeking to move beyond policy commitments towards reforms that produce measurable improvements for businesses and investors.

He said the summit provided an opportunity to assess progress made in implementing resolutions from last year, identify outstanding challenges and ensure that the competitiveness agenda translated into tangible results.

“Our theme of this Summit, ‘Accelerating Regulatory Reforms and Ease of Doing Business for a Dynamic and Competitive Zimbabwean Economy’, is our operational manifesto for economic transformation.

“For the private sector to play its role, it must operate within a regulatory environment that is not a maze of constraints, but a launchpad for innovation, productivity, and global competitiveness.”

The remarks place regulatory efficiency at the centre of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive, with the Government seeking to reduce the cost and uncertainty associated with operating businesses across the economy.

“Competitiveness lies at the heart of industrial development. Industry players have indicated that the cost of regulatory compliance, estimated at approximately 18 percent of the cost of production, has increasingly affected the competitiveness of the sector.

“Smart, predictable and efficient regulatory systems are therefore imperative.

“Regulation must become an enabler of productivity and innovation rather than a constraint on enterprise.”

Ambassador Chifamba said the summit would therefore examine how Zimbabwe could develop regulations that were enabling, incentive-based, predictable and sustainable.

The reforms are expected to support enterprise development, encourage investment and allow businesses to respond more effectively to changing domestic, regional and global market conditions.

The Government has already made progress in streamlining the regulatory environment, including through establishing the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA).

Ambassador Chifamba noted the recent launch of the ZIDA e-Regulations Portal as an important intervention aimed at improving transparency and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“The recent launch of the ZIDA e-Regulations Portal represents a significant step forward in improving transparency and reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks.

“This digital platform is designed to cut bureaucratic hurdles by providing transparent, step-by-step guidance on regulatory procedures, making it easier for investors to navigate the business environment.”

He also said progress had been made under the National Development Strategy 1, while NDS2 was continuing with initiatives aimed at improving ease of doing business.

“These include the modernisation of customs-clearance procedures and other measures intended to facilitate trade, investment and industrial development.”

However, he said Zimbabwe needed to continue aligning its regulatory systems with emerging regional and international standards, including those associated with the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Such alignment, he said, would strengthen the capacity of local enterprises to participate in regional and international value chains while ensuring that growth remained sustainable and responsible.

The regulatory reform drive comes as the Government seeks to accelerate manufacturing through the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy 2 (ZNIDP 2), which runs from 2026 to 2030.

Ambassador Chifamba said the policy prioritised value-chain development, local content development, rural industrialisation and the revitalisation of the manufacturing sector.

A major new focus is mineral beneficiation, with the Government seeking to use the country’s mineral resources as a foundation for domestic manufacturing and job creation.

“A central and new focus of ZNIDP 2 is the strong and structured emphasis on mineral value addition and beneficiation as a manufacturing imperative.

“We can no longer be content with exporting raw materials; our minerals must contribute meaningfully to domestic industrialization and employment creation, technological development and economic growth.”

The Government has identified 11 mineral-based value chains for focused promotion, with regulatory reform expected to play a key role in unlocking investment and industrial capacity.

“To this end, the Government has identified 11 mineral-based value chains for focused promotion. Regulatory reform is central to the success of this effort, as it will enable industries to scale up, innovate, attract investment and compete sustainably in domestic, regional and international markets.”

He said an efficient regulatory framework would also help strengthen linkages between mining, manufacturing and other productive sectors.

“An efficient regulatory framework will also support the development of linkages between mining, manufacturing and other productive sectors.

“This will enable Zimbabwe to retain greater value from its natural resources, strengthen local supply chains and create opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises.”

The Government has also moved to directly address the cost of doing business through a review of licences, permits, levies and fees.

“In August 2026, Cabinet approved a wide-ranging review of licences, permits, levies and fees, which included removing unnecessary levies and reducing unjustifiably high fees in all key sectors of the economy, including dairy, tourism, transport, manufacturing, mining, financial services, wholesale and retail, energy, construction and health.”

The move potentially has implications across the productive economy as businesses contend with multiple regulatory requirements and associated costs.

Ambassador Chifamba also pointed to the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo held in July as part of efforts to mobilise capital for industrial projects.

“This high-level event was designed as a practical deal-making platform to mobilise domestic and global capital for industrial projects, directly supporting the objectives of ZINDP 2 and our import substitution agenda.”

A major feature of the current reform programme is the push towards locally generated competitiveness data.

The Government, through the NCC and Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency, conducted the National Competitiveness Baseline Survey (NCBS), which Ambassador Chifamba described as a shift towards developing a local competitiveness indicators database.

“This ground-breaking initiative represents a shift from relying on external statistics to developing a localized competitiveness indicators database that accurately captures Zimbabwe’s unique economic realities.”

He said the baseline would provide policymakers, businesses and development partners with evidence to guide targeted interventions and track progress towards Vision 2030.

Complementing the survey is the Rural and Urban Councils Competitiveness Index (RUCCI), which is designed to assess competitiveness among local authorities.

“This landmark framework provides a robust evidence-based mechanism for measuring and enhancing the competitiveness of all local authorities, thereby promoting efficient service delivery, investment attraction, and inclusive local economic growth.”

Ambassador Chifamba said the index would strengthen the devolution agenda, improve ease of doing business and encourage healthy competition among local authorities.

For the Government, the effectiveness of the reforms will ultimately depend on implementation and their impact on businesses, investors, workers and communities, he added.

“The success of regulatory reform will ultimately be measured by its impact on businesses, investors, workers and communities.

“We must therefore ensure that reforms are implemented consistently, monitored effectively and informed by regular consultation with the private sector and other stakeholders.”

He said the Government would continue streamlining licensing and permitting procedures, strengthening digital platforms, improving inter-agency coordination and enhancing transparency around regulatory requirements.

“We will also continue to assess the cost of compliance and identify opportunities to eliminate duplication, reduce delays and improve service delivery.”

The private sector, he said, also had a role to play through constructive engagement, evidence-based feedback and compliance with applicable laws and standards.

Ambassador Chifamba said NCC would remain central to coordinating the reform process, tracking progress and ensuring commitments made at the summit translated into measurable improvements.

“The National Competitiveness Commission will remain central to coordinating these efforts, tracking progress and ensuring that the commitments made at this Summit translate into measurable improvements in Zimbabwe’s competitiveness.”

He urged stakeholders to use the summit to move from policy commitments to practical implementation.

“Let us use this Summit to deepen our resolve, strengthen collaboration and move from policy commitments to practical implementation

“A dynamic and competitive Zimbabwean economy requires a regulatory framework that is efficient, transparent, predictable and responsive to the needs of business and society.

“Through sustained reform, evidence-based decision-making and strong public-private partnerships, we can create an environment that promotes investment, supports innovation, strengthens industrialisation and improves the welfare of our people.”

Source: Govt ups ante on reforms to boost industry – herald

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Debra Matabvu

Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE and Mozambique share an unbreakable, deep-rooted bond forged in the liberation struggle and the two countries will continue to build on that enduring history by strengthening bilateral cooperation, promoting legislative alignment and driving economic modernisation for mutual prosperity, President Mnangagwa said.

Writing on his X handle after meeting the Speaker of the National Assembly of Mozambique, Ms Margarida Adamugi Talapa at Munhumutapa Offices, President Mnangagwa said the bond between the two countries was unbreakable.

“It was an honour to welcome the Speaker of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique, Her Excellency Margarida Adamugy Talapa, and her delegation for a courtesy call at the Munhumutapa Offices today.

“Zimbabwe and Mozambique share an unbreakable, deep-rooted bond forged during our liberation struggles. Today, we continue to build on that enduring history by strengthening our bilateral cooperation, promoting legislative alignment, and driving economic modernisation for the mutual prosperity of our people.

“We remain committed to deep, pan-African solidarity as we work hand-in-hand to foster peace, integration, and development across the SADC region”.

Speaking after the courtesy call, Ms Talapa said the National Assemblies of the two countries would continue to share expertise on the implementation of laws aimed at promoting socio-economic development and improving the livelihoods of their respective citizens.

“We signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two Parliaments, where the actions that will follow are there for the development of our Parliaments, more proximity between our Parliaments, exchange of legislative matters, which will allow the development of our countries,” she said.

“We know that we are in the era of economic independence for our countries.

“The Parliaments are invited to establish conditions for our peoples and countries.”

Ms Talapa also described the relationship between the two countries as rooted in “brotherhood” which dates back to the liberation struggle.

She said: “For us, it is a great honour to be welcomed by the President, because Zimbabwe and Mozambique are two brotherly countries.

“They have a common history dating from the times of the struggle for liberation of our countries.

“The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe expressed his sense of brotherhood, solidarity between the two countries.

“We will continue working together for economic independence for the two countries. He (President Mnangagwa) recommended us, as Parliaments, to establish conditions and laws that will enable our countries to achieve this rapid economic independence of our countries.

“The Parliament should approve laws that meet the aspirations of our peoples and countries.”

Ms Talapa is leading a delegation of Mozambican parliamentarians on a four-day visit to Zimbabwe that began on Sunday. The delegation is expected to return to Mozambique today.

During her visit, she toured the new Parliament building in Mt Hampden and met her Zimbabwean counterpart, Advocate Jacob Mudenda.

She also toured the National Heroes Acre and the Museum of African Liberation, among other activities.

Ms Talapa applauded Zimbabwe for spearheading the construction of the museum which enabled Africans to tell their own story.

“We visited the African Liberation Museum, a museum that we think will tell the real history of the African people, enable Africans to tell their own history,” she added.

Also speaking after the courtesy call, Advocate Mudenda described the visit by the Mozambican delegation as historic and said it sought to cement relations between the two countries.

“The visit by my sister, Comrade Speaker, Parliament of Mozambique, was quite historic. It was a reciprocal visit to my visit to the Parliament of Mozambique in 2024,” he said.

“Her visit here was historic because it was a measure to cement our fraternal parliamentary relations in the spirit of promoting parliamentary diplomacy.

“We have agreed that, following our signing of the Memorandum of Agreement, we continue to work together at the regional level in SADC through the SADC Parliamentary Forum, in Africa through the African Parliament and internationally through the Inter-Parliamentary Union.”

Advocate Mudenda said Ms Talapa’s visit should be followed by further exchanges, including a visit to Zimbabwe’s major tourist attractions such as Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe.

He also accepted an invitation to visit Mozambique, accompanied by members of Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Portfolio Committee, to strengthen interparliamentary and fraternal relations between the two countries.

Source: ‘Zim, Moza share unbreakable bond’ – herald

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