Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

HARARE – A Chinese man has been sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of illegally dealing in wildlife, in one of the stiffest penalties handed down in Zimbabwe’s ongoing crackdown on poaching and the illicit wildlife trade.

A Harare magistrates on Thursday convicted Cong Yanzhong, 57, on two counts of unlawfully dealing in wildlife products.

He was arrested in July after detectives recovered 7.7kg of rhino horn worth US$240,000 and 36kg of raw ivory valued at just over US$6,000 from his possession and residence.

According to the National Prosecuting Authority, detectives acting on a tip-off trailed Cong on July 16. They intercepted him carrying a black satchel and a brown bag, which were found to contain three shrink-wrapped rhino horns. He was unable to produce the necessary permits or licences.

A subsequent search of his Harare home uncovered the ivory pieces, deepening suspicions that Cong was part of a wider trafficking network.

The court imposed an effective 18-year custodial sentence.

“The sentencing sends a strong message that Zimbabwe has zero tolerance for wildlife crime,” the NPA said in a statement.

“We will continue to work tirelessly to protect our precious natural heritage and ensure that those who seek to profit from the destruction of our wildlife face the full force of the law.”

Zimbabwe, home to some of the world’s largest populations of elephants and black rhinos, has been battling sophisticated poaching syndicates that often operate across borders. Wildlife crime has been fuelled by demand for ivory and rhino horn in parts of Asia, where they are prized for ornaments and traditional medicine.

The NPA said Cong’s sentencing should deter others who may be tempted by the lucrative but illegal wildlife trade.

HARARE — Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube has moved to reduce Zimbabwe’s cumbersome and expensive licensing fees, following firsthand experience of the challenges faced by business owners.

The reforms come after the Minister personally witnessed the difficulties his wife encountered while registering a restaurant in Bulawayo last year. For years, Zimbabwean entrepreneurs have expressed frustration at having to pay multiple, often overlapping fees for different operations within the same business.

In one notable example, a single supermarket had to purchase separate licences for its bakery, butchery, restaurant, and liquor sales, making compliance both costly and time-consuming. Minister Ncube acknowledged the system’s inefficiency, describing the licensing requirements his wife faced as a “very long list” that delayed the restaurant’s opening and added unnecessary financial burdens.

On Wednesday, the Finance Ministry unveiled reforms aimed at simplifying the licensing process, reducing fees, and cutting bureaucratic red tape. According to Ncube, the new measures are designed not only to ease the financial and administrative burden on local entrepreneurs but also to make Zimbabwe more attractive to foreign and domestic investors.

“We recognised that our licensing system was outdated, repetitive, and unfair to business owners.

By streamlining fees and reducing the number of licences required, we are creating an environment where businesses can thrive and investors can feel confident,” Ncube said.

The reforms are expected to benefit small and medium enterprises in particular, as well as larger corporations, by consolidating multiple licences and introducing more transparent procedures.

Analysts say this could encourage a wave of new business registrations, stimulate economic activity, and contribute to Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 goal of industrial growth and job creation. Business leaders have welcomed the announcement, noting that the high cost and complexity of licensing had long been a deterrent to entrepreneurship and investment.

Some are optimistic that these reforms could mark a turning point in improving Zimbabwe’s ease of doing business rankings and boosting overall economic competitiveness.

Find people with high expectations and a low tolerance for excuses. They’ll have higher expectations for you than you have for yourself. Don’t flatter yourself that this has much to do with you – this is just who they are. Don’t look for “nice” in these relationships. Look for trust.

Be fearless in front of them with your ideas as many times as they’ll let you

Beauty Dust is very pretty to look at and it tastes like nothing, which is great. Here is what it’s supposed to do: This ancient empiric formula expands beauty through alchemizing elements legendary for their youth preserving, fortifying and tonifying qualities. Glowing supple skin, lustrous shiny hair and twinkling bright eyes are holistically bestowed from the inside out.

I actually first read this as alkalizing meaning effecting pH level, and I was like, OK I guess I understand how that could positively effect your body, but alchemizing means turning elements to gold basically through magic. That lead me to research each ingredient because I know alchemy is not actually happening in my body when I eat this, since alchemy is not real.

In addition to loving beauty and taking care of myself, I also love opening people minds to other paths of self-care, and good marketing and I can honestly say that I use and personally love this product but I’m not sure for which reason.

I think it made me think about it more and really consider why I was choosing to add this to my routine

It poses an interesting question for me on the wellness category – will people be willing to buy in, or does eating something change your “sniff” test on the believe-ability of the claims?

The color is very long lasting and they have an interesting texture that’s like a powder and a cream but neither really. They’re made with pure pigments and oils and will never melt with the warmth of your skin because they don’t contain any waxes. You can literally use them for anything – obviously as eye shadow and liner, but the light shade is a great highlighter, and the red can be used for lip or blush with a little balm.

There’s also a little pouch to store the rollerballs, and a card with different inspirations as to how to blend them on your skin – but it’s foolproof. You can’t make a mess if you mix them all up.

Badger Beard Balm is perfect for the bearded gents in your life (is this everyone? beards are so trending). It is filled with good things such as vitamins A, D, E & F to keep his beard healthy, thicker and cleaner, as well as helping to relieve itchiness as it soothes the skin under the hair.

If you’re looking to get rid of this beard, maybe this is not the right angle for your gifting

Further, no one wants to cuddle with a dirty beard – who knows, maybe you already are and are dying for a nice way to help this problem of yours his. Beard Wash made by Beard Buddy. Started in 2011 in California, all Beard Buddy products are hand crafted by beards for beards. Both founders have large beards of their own to tame, and wanted to do this with organic products – kudos, and cuddles, to them.

Find people with high expectations and a low tolerance for excuses. They’ll have higher expectations for you than you have for yourself. Don’t flatter yourself that this has much to do with you – this is just who they are. Don’t look for “nice” in these relationships. Look for trust.

Be fearless in front of them with your ideas as many times as they’ll let you

Beauty Dust is very pretty to look at and it tastes like nothing, which is great. Here is what it’s supposed to do: This ancient empiric formula expands beauty through alchemizing elements legendary for their youth preserving, fortifying and tonifying qualities. Glowing supple skin, lustrous shiny hair and twinkling bright eyes are holistically bestowed from the inside out.

I actually first read this as alkalizing meaning effecting pH level, and I was like, OK I guess I understand how that could positively effect your body, but alchemizing means turning elements to gold basically through magic. That lead me to research each ingredient because I know alchemy is not actually happening in my body when I eat this, since alchemy is not real.

In addition to loving beauty and taking care of myself, I also love opening people minds to other paths of self-care, and good marketing and I can honestly say that I use and personally love this product but I’m not sure for which reason.

I think it made me think about it more and really consider why I was choosing to add this to my routine

It poses an interesting question for me on the wellness category – will people be willing to buy in, or does eating something change your “sniff” test on the believe-ability of the claims?

The color is very long lasting and they have an interesting texture that’s like a powder and a cream but neither really. They’re made with pure pigments and oils and will never melt with the warmth of your skin because they don’t contain any waxes. You can literally use them for anything – obviously as eye shadow and liner, but the light shade is a great highlighter, and the red can be used for lip or blush with a little balm.

There’s also a little pouch to store the rollerballs, and a card with different inspirations as to how to blend them on your skin – but it’s foolproof. You can’t make a mess if you mix them all up.

Badger Beard Balm is perfect for the bearded gents in your life (is this everyone? beards are so trending). It is filled with good things such as vitamins A, D, E & F to keep his beard healthy, thicker and cleaner, as well as helping to relieve itchiness as it soothes the skin under the hair.

If you’re looking to get rid of this beard, maybe this is not the right angle for your gifting

Further, no one wants to cuddle with a dirty beard – who knows, maybe you already are and are dying for a nice way to help this problem of yours his. Beard Wash made by Beard Buddy. Started in 2011 in California, all Beard Buddy products are hand crafted by beards for beards. Both founders have large beards of their own to tame, and wanted to do this with organic products – kudos, and cuddles, to them.