Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Gweru takes delivery of two refuse compactors – herald

Diana Nherera

THE City of Gweru has taken delivery of two refuse compactors.

Town clerk Mr Livingston Churu said the compactors were acquired through a tender.

“So we are getting two at a time,” he said.

Mr Churu thanked residents of Gweru for paying their bills and supporting the city’s vision of a clean and smart city in terms of refuse management.

“By paying their bills, we can also resource refuse operations so that their refuse is collected,” he said.

Mr Churu said council wants all wards to be well served.

“We require at least 12 compactors, then two wards share a compactor and three will be used for refuse collection in industrial areas.

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Source: Local goods claim over 60% of supermarket shelves -Newsday Zimbabwe

LOCALLY y produced goods are now occupying over sixty percent of supermarket shelves up from just 30 percent in 2018, authorities said.

Industry and Trade minister, Mangaliso Ndlovu, said the resurgence is evident in the rapid development of the Sunway City Special Economic Zone, now home to over 40 companies.

On Wednesday, President Emmerson Mnangagwa commissioned two additional agro-processing plants at Davipel Holdings.

Ndlovu said Davipel’s expansion reflects the success of the country’s national industrialisation policy, which continues to stimulate investment and strengthen local manufacturing.

“Davipel Holdings is one of many expansion success stories taking place in Zimbabwe. We have a duty to reduce the import bill, and that is exactly what is happening in the manufacturing sector,” he said.

Davipel Holdings chief executive, Davison Norupiri, attributed the company’s sustained growth to the favourable business environment created by the government.

“We are excited to witness this growth story over the past eight years, during which we have created jobs, promoted value addition and enhanced technology transfer,” he said.

Industry leaders say the continued growth of local companies is having a positive ripple effect throughout the economy by creating employment opportunities, increasing production and strengthening Zimbabwe’s industrial base.

Grain Millers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson, Tafadzwa Musarara, said the milling industry is experiencing renewed growth.

“Our milling industry is now on a growth trajectory, and Davipel is spearheading that revolution in the milling sector,” he said.

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce chief executive, Christopher Mugaga said the recent rebasing of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) reflects years of sustained industrial expansion and increased economic activity.

“The GDP has been rebased owing to industry growth over the years, and we are witnessing that as new industries continue to open, in line with the growth of the economy,” he said.

The resurgence of domestic manufacturing is also evident on supermarket shelves, where locally produced goods now account for about 80 percent of products available, compared to approximately 30 percent in 2018.

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Source: Dinson Steel drives import substitution  -Newsday Zimbabwe

The US$1.5 billion Dinson Iron and Steel Company (DISCO) in Manhize is now supplying locally produced steel to domestic industries, a development expected to reduce reliance on imports, save foreign currency and accelerate industrialisation.

This emerged during a medic tour of high-impact projects in Midlands organised by the Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services ministry.

The ministry said the tour was aimed at highlighting transformative projects that are reshaping Zimbabwe’s economy through large-scale investments in key productive sectors.

“The media tour’s first stop was at Dinson Iron and Steel Company in Manhize. The US$1.5 billion integrated steel plant is a subsidiary of China’s Tsingshan Holding Group.

“The plant began pig iron production in July 2024 and has set an annual production target of up to 1.2 million tonnes, positioning it among the largest steel manufacturing facilities in the region,” the ministry added.

According to the ministry, the plant’s blast furnaces are operating at full capacity while its continuous casting section is fully operational, producing steel billets and slabs for industrial use.

“The blast furnaces are operating at full capacity, and continuous casting is fully operational, producing steel billets and slabs,” the ministry said.

“Currently, Dinson’s market is 60 percent domestic and 40 percent foreign, dominated by SADC countries. The major focus for now is on the local market, with the surplus for export. This strategy promotes import substitution for steel products.”

By supplying locally manufactured steel to domestic industries, the company is expected to strengthen value addition, reduce foreign currency expenditure on imports and support downstream manufacturing sectors that rely on steel inputs.

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Source: ZIMSTAT begins household survey preparations -Newsday Zimbabwe

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) will next week begin a nationwide listing exercise for the 2026/27 Household Budget Survey (HBS).

The survey will run from August 7 to 17 across selected enumeration areas in all the ten provinces.

 

 

ZIMSTAT director-general, Tafadzwa Bandama, said the exercise was a crucial step in ensuring that the agency collects accurate and reliable data for national planning and policy formulation.

“The primary objective of the listing exercise is to update the household frame and facilitate the scientific selection of households that will participate in the 2026/27 HBS,” Bandama said.

He said ZIMSTAT field personnel would collect basic information on residential and non-residential structures, occupancy status of dwellings, the number of households within each structure, and names of heads of households.

“The information collected during this exercise will provide the foundation for selecting households that will take part in the Household Budget Survey, ensuring that the survey results accurately represent the population,” he said.

 

 

The HBS is conducted in line with the Census and Statistics Act which mandates ZIMSTAT to produce official statistics required for national development planning.

Bandama said the survey would generate data critical for updating the Consumer Price Index (CPI) basket and weights, measuring poverty levels and household welfare, assessing consumption patterns, and estimating the contribution of the informal sector to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

“The HBS provides essential information that supports evidence-based policy formulation, planning, budgeting and the design of socio-economic development programmes,” he said.

ZIMSTAT said all information collected during the listing exercise would be treated with strict confidentiality and used only for statistical purposes as provided for under the law.

The statistics body urged households in selected areas to cooperate with its enumerators by providing accurate information.

It said participation would contribute towards the production of reliable official statistics that guide national development decisions.

To ensure transparency, ZIMSTAT field personnel conducting the exercise will carry official ZIMSTAT identity cards and authorisation letters issued by the agency to allow households to verify their credentials.

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Source: Zimbabwe tightens grip on illegal gambling -Newsday Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s gaming industry is undergoing sweeping reforms as government and the Lotteries and Gaming Board strengthen regulation, tighten enforcement against illegal gambling, modernise oversight through digital systems and promote responsible gaming to boost transparency, consumer protection and sustainable economic growth.

Addressing the Fifth Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Harare on Tuesday, Home Affairs and Cultural Heritage minister Kazembe Kazembe challenged the industry to embrace professionalism, ethical conduct and full compliance with the country’s laws.

 

 

He described the gaming industry as an important contributor to the economy that must be safeguarded through integrity, accountability and responsible regulation.

Kazembe also warned that illegal gambling threatens public confidence, deprives the State of revenue and exposes citizens to exploitation.

“Compliance is not optional. It is both a legal and moral obligation,” Kazembe said, urging operators to place consumer welfare at the centre of their business models while promoting responsible gaming and protecting vulnerable groups from gambling-related harm.

Meanwhile, board chairperson Dr Eugenia Chidhakwa said 2025 marked a period of institutional consolidation, with the Board strengthening governance systems in line with the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act while reinforcing transparency, accountability and strategic oversight.

 

 

She said the board had achieved full compliance with corporate governance requirements, appointed a substantive chief executive officer and strengthened its governance architecture through seven board committees responsible for oversight and policy implementation.

“The board remains steadfast in its mission to safeguard integrity, inspire trust and contribute meaningfully to national socio-economic development,” Chidhakwa said.

She revealed that government is processing amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act to modernise the legal framework and improve regulatory efficiency as the industry continues to evolve.

Chidhakwa also highlighted the board’s plans to introduce a real-time Gaming Management System that will enhance monitoring, improve revenue accountability and strengthen oversight of licensed operators.

She expressed concern over the growth of illegal online gambling and increasing gambling addiction, particularly among young people, saying stronger technological controls and stakeholder partnerships were being pursued to address emerging risks.

Chief executive Godfrey Mutobaya said institutional strengthening remained a major priority during 2025 following his substantive appointment and the recruitment of ten additional officers across compliance, finance, procurement and human resources.

He said nationwide compliance operations conducted jointly with law enforcement agencies resulted in 29 arrests and the confiscation of 94 illegal gaming machines, which were later destroyed under a court order.

Mutobaya reported that the board recorded total revenue of ZiG47.97 million during 2025, generating an operational surplus of ZiG2.48 million while maintaining a positive net asset position of ZiG4.07 million.

Beyond regulation, he said the Board continued funding community development projects across education, heritage conservation and social infrastructure in fulfilment of its statutory mandate.

Among the projects completed were classroom blocks, skills training facilities and infrastructure improvements at heritage sites, reinforcing the Board’s commitment to supporting national development.

The AGM also reaffirmed the Board’s commitment to expanding digital regulation, enhancing stakeholder engagement, strengthening compliance systems and promoting responsible gaming as Zimbabwe modernises its rapidly growing gaming industry.

The  key Lottery Board and Gaming AGM Highlights include and were not limited to Minister  Kazembe Kazembe call for stricter compliance and responsible gaming, Governance strengthened through full corporate governance compliance, Government advancing amendments to the Lotteries and Gaming Act, Real-time Gaming Management System under development, warning and noticing that 29 arrests and 94 illegal gaming machines confiscated.

The AGM also noticed that Revenue reached ZiG47.97 million, Operational surplus recorded at ZiG2.48 million, Community development projects expanded nationwide and Greater focus on youth protection and combating gambling addiction.

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