Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

The Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission has recovered and forfeited assets worth over US$39 million since 2019, in addition to referring corruption cases valued at over US$217 million to the National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe. This represents a major milestone for the commission as it prepares to launch its 2026–2030 National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS2). It also follows an

The Commercial Farmers union (CFU) has commended the Government over ongoing efforts to improve the business environment through initiatives to reduce the cost of doing business in the agricultural sector.

Mr Liam Philp, the president of CFU, which mainly represents large-scale white commercial farmers, said this at the Horticulture Development Council (HDC) investor forum held on Thursday last week, whose proceedings included the Horticulture Investors Pitch to the Zimbabwean Economy.

In September, the Government started implementing bold measures to eliminate the bureaucratic obstacles that have long hindered farmers and the agriculture sector.

This includes cutting numerous fees and simplifying regulatory compliance requirements as part of the first phase of its ease of doing business and regulatory reform programme.

It is only the beginning of extensive business reforms cutting across key sectors, including retail, energy, transport, manufacturing, construction and tourism.

Agriculture has been chosen as the first testing ground for these reforms, with livestock, dairy and stockfeed producers now enjoying dramatic reductions in regulatory fees and permits.

Mr Philp indicated that the measures the Government is taking would stimulate increased productivity, enhance competitiveness and attract both domestic and foreign investment into agriculture.

The union noted that challenges such as high input costs, energy shortages and limited access to finance have been constraining growth in the sector.

However, policy consistency, investment in infrastructure and engagement with private players are beginning to yield positive results.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the head of state and the Government of Zimbabwe for all the efforts, which they are putting into the business and the cost of doing business. There seems to be a strong commitment and tremendous engagement.

“We have seen the first draft of policy reforms come out for the livestock sector and it was very encouraging. There is a lot of work happening in terms of support. We recently submitted recommendations because there is a lot of reform that needs to happen in agriculture,” said Mr Philp.

CFU added that continued collaboration between the public and private sectors will be critical to sustain momentum and ensure that the benefits of reduced operating costs translate into improved productivity and profitability for farmers across the country.

This was affirmed by development finance institutions (DFIs) that have acknowledged the Government’s commitment to the ease of doing business reforms as one of the major reasons they are considering giving Zimbabwe another chance in terms of co-operation.

The DFIs cited that Zimbabwe is one of the best countries to support in terms of horticulture financing and production, given the country’s unique, mild climate, fertile soils and reliable sunlight, which allow all year-round production across multiple agro-ecological zones.

Growing interest in local horticulture comes as the HDC indicated that it aims to transform Zimbabwe’s horticultural sector into a US$2,5 billion industry by 2030, driven by sustainable investment, value addition and strategic partnerships.

Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector remains one of the key anchors of economic recovery, contributing significantly to gross domestic product export earnings.

Recent Government reforms, including investment incentives, currency stabilisation measures, and improved land tenure systems, were also cited as steps that could boost investor confidence. – Herald

ATLANTA — Hip-hop icon Nelly celebrated his 51st birthday in grand style over the weekend with a surprise dinner party organised by his wife, Ashanti, at the exclusive Lo Kee Restaurant in Atlanta. The intimate yet glamorous affair drew a small circle of celebrity friends, including Bow Wow and Jermaine Dupri, for a night filled with music, laughter, and love.

According to Page Six, Ashanti went all out to make the night unforgettable, transforming the upscale Asian fusion venue into a warm, candlelit celebration for about 50 guests. The private room featured a curated menu that included Beijing chicken, rock shrimp tempura, chicken satay, and salt and pepper prawns — a nod to the couple’s shared love for fine dining.

The birthday pair arrived around 10:30 p.m., with Nelly all smiles as Ashanti serenaded him with a soulful rendition of “Happy Birthday.” The celebration continued until 1:30 a.m., ending on a high note with a World Series watch party, where guests cheered as the Los Angeles Dodgers triumphed over the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7.

Later in the evening, Nelly and Ashanti were spotted in coordinated Halloween costumes, adding a playful twist to the festivities.

The celebration was more than just a birthday party — it was a reflection of the couple’s enduring love story. Nelly and Ashanti quietly tied the knot in December 2023 in Nelly’s hometown of St. Louis, marking a full-circle moment after rekindling their romance earlier that year.

Their relationship, which first blossomed in 2003 before ending in 2013, reignited in April 2023 when they were spotted holding hands in Las Vegas. Since then, the pair have welcomed their first child together, Kareem Kenkaide Hayes, born in July 2024. Kareem joins Nelly’s two adult children, Chanelle (31) and Cornell Haynes III (26), from a previous relationship with Channetta Valentine.

In September, Nelly celebrated Ashanti’s birthday with a heartfelt message on Instagram, writing:

“Happy Birthday to the most beautiful and amazing woman in this world. Marrying you wasn’t just finding love — it was finding home. Love you, mama.”

For the couple, whose journey has spanned over two decades of music, love, and personal growth, Saturday’s celebration was yet another reminder that some stories — much like classic hip-hop — only get better with time.

Source: AllHipHop.com

Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries leader, Walter Magaya has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court this Monday facing multiple charges of rape and fraud involving more than US$40 000. Magaya, who was arrested on Saturday, appeared alongside his wife, Tendai, who is jointly charged with him on fraud allegations. It is the State’s case that Magaya was arrested

HARARE – Prophetic Healing and Deliverance (PHD) Ministries founder Walter Magaya and his wife Tendai on Monday appeared in court facing 13 counts of fraud linked to a multi-million-dollar church housing project that allegedly never materialised.

Also charged are the couple’s companies — Planet Africa (Pvt) Ltd and Yadah Connect (Pvt) Ltd — both represented in court by Tatenda Chinguwa, who is the operations manager for the two entities.

The state alleges that between 2016 and 2018, Magaya and his co-accused defrauded PHD congregants and other members of the public by falsely claiming to have acquired land for residential stands and investment projects across the country, including Chishawasha, Norton, Westgate, Fern Valley (Mutare), Bulawayo, Kwekwe, Arcturus, Ruwa, Manyame and Nyatsime.

Magaya, the court heard, announced the projects during a church service broadcast live on Yadah TV, claiming that “God had instructed him” to help believers build homes.

He allegedly told congregants that those who purchased stands through Planet Africa would have their houses built by Yadah Connect, and that members could also invest in mining, farming and bee-keeping ventures promising “50 percent interest after six months.”

The court heard that brochures bearing the Bible verse Genesis 13:9 — “A vast land is out there and available to you” — were distributed during the campaign, depicting houses and plots said to have been acquired for the faithful.

Prosecutors say the representations were false and that no such land had been secured. Thirteen complainants listed in the police papers are said to have paid various sums of money, running into tens of thousands of US dollars, but never received any stands or refunds.

Appearing before Harare magistrate Marewanazvo Gofa, Magaya and his wife were represented by lawyers Admire Rubaya and Everson Chatambudza, who immediately challenged their continued detention.

Rubaya argued that the couple had been held for more than 48 hours following their arrest on November 1, rendering their appearance unlawful.

“Magaya was arrested at 5AM while praying at his prayer mountain by over 30 armed officers,” Rubaya told the court. “He was not allowed to contact his lawyers until after 11:30AM. His wife was also arrested without justification and over-detained. This is unconstitutional.”

The lawyer said the couple had been held incommunicado, with police initially denying them access to their legal representatives.

“We visited CID Headquarters where we were told they were being held, but we were informed they were not there,” Rubaya said. “They were not given access to their lawyers until after 11:30AM on November 1, when a police officer who is also a lawyer, Julia Chidumwa, intervened.”

Rubaya said the state had admitted to the over-detention, which he argued rendered the entire prosecution invalid.

“Even the state concedes they were over-detained. The constitution is clear — the law applies equally to all, including the state,” he argued. “You cannot put something on nothing; it will collapse. Once the state admits over-detention, this court must release the accused unconditionally.”

He said the only exception to the 48-hour rule would be if police had obtained a warrant for further detention, which they did not.

Prosecutor Clemence Chimbari admitted the over-detention but argued that the defence should seek redress through the Constitutional Court rather than the Magistrates’ Court.

Magistrate Gofa reserved judgement on the application for the couple’s release on account of over-detention. They were remanded in custody to Tuesday.

Meanwhile, shortly after the hearing the court was cleared for an in-camera hearing into unrelated rape charges that Magaya faces. – ZimLive