Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Grain levy powers irrigation revival -Newsday Zimbabwe

At least 1 796 hectares of irrigable land are set to be brought back into production following the rehabilitation of 24 irrigation schemes financed through the Grain Levy.

The programme, funded through the Agricultural Marketing Fund (AMF) established under Statutory Instrument 87 of 2025, is part of a broader strategy to strengthen food security, increase agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on grain imports

The Grain Levy, which is collected by the Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA) on imported grain, was introduced to mobilise sustainable funding for strategic agricultural investments, particularly irrigation development and climate resilience initiatives.

The irrigation expansion comes as weather experts forecast a 90 percent probability of below-normal rainfall across Southern Africa during the forthcoming agricultural season.

In response, the government has intensified climate adaptation measures that include irrigation development, mechanisation, water harvesting, climate-smart agriculture and the promotion of drought-tolerant crop varieties.

Last week, President Emmerson Mnangagwa urged farmers to plant early maturing and drought-resistant crops.

The government is targeting 1,8 million hectares of maize and more than 500 000 hectares of traditional grains during the 2026/2027 summer cropping season, with irrigation expected to play a central role in sustaining production.

More than US$3,2 million and ZiG29 million have already been disbursed through the Agricultural Marketing Fund towards irrigation rehabilitation projects, many of which are nearing completion.

AMA marketing and public relations manager Tina Nleya said the authority was already witnessing positive results from the Grain Levy-funded programme.

“So far, we have rehabilitated 24 irrigation schemes covering 1 796 hectares of land. Nyaitenga Irrigation Scheme is now 100 percent complete, while most of the remaining schemes are between 60 and 100 percent complete,” she said.

She added that additional funding would be released once the current phase is completed.

“The Grain Levy has provided a sustainable financing mechanism that is not only rehabilitating irrigation infrastructure but also helping us aggregate agricultural production and secure reliable markets for farmers.”

According to AMA, completed irrigation schemes include Nyaitenga in Mashonaland East, Chimhanda in Mashonaland Central, Nyamangara in Mashonaland West and Hlauke in Matabeleland North, while several other projects are at advanced stages of implementation.

Mashonaland East provincial irrigation development director engineer, Catherine Mureri-Jaji, said the rehabilitation had transformed agricultural production within a short period.

“For almost five years, our drip section was completely down, but after the intervention through AMA funding, it took only one month to rehabilitate the scheme. Today, the entire irrigation system is fully functional.

“The project included repairing the main pipeline, replacing damaged filters and drip lines, installing a new pump and expanding the scheme by three hectares to accommodate youth farmers, she said.

Ward 25 councillor Chenjerai Kandemiri said the rehabilitation had revitalised the local economy.

“People are back in the fields, household incomes are improving and the community has renewed hope. The project has created productive opportunities, particularly for young people who had become idle,” said Kandemiri.

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Source: ZIMRA urges accountants to drive tax compliance -Newsday Zimbabwe

VICTORIA FALLS, Aug. 1 (NewsDay Live) – The Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) has urged accountants to play a more active role in strengthening tax compliance, saying the profession will be critical to improving revenue collection as the tax authority modernises its systems and tightens enforcement.

Speaking at the 2026 Winter School of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ), ZIMRA Regional Manager for Domestic Taxes, Gamuchirai Makwangudze, said accountants occupy a strategic position in helping businesses meet their tax obligations through accurate financial reporting, ethical conduct and sound record-keeping.

“As accountants, we really need to lead taxpayers and our organisations in the right direction. We need to work in partnership because our shared goal is compliance and success,” Makwangudze said.

Her remarks come as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority intensifies efforts to boost domestic revenue through digital transformation, legislative reforms and enhanced compliance measures aimed at broadening the tax base while simplifying tax administration.

Makwangudze said accountants should be regarded as strategic partners in strengthening Zimbabwe’s tax system rather than simply preparing financial statements.

“We need to collaborate and support the compliance agenda. Accountants are very important in ensuring that whatever we do assists in improving compliance. You are strategic partners because you contribute to accurate financial reporting and ethical conduct,” she said.

She said Zimbabwe’s evolving tax landscape requires a modern compliance framework that balances efficient revenue collection with improved taxpayer services.

“We are operating in an evolving tax environment that demands a modern compliance framework balancing efficient revenue collection with better taxpayer services. As ZIMRA, we are undergoing a digital transformation and implementing legislative reforms that are changing how taxpayers meet their obligations and how the authority administers the tax system,” Makwangudze said.

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She added that accountants, tax agents and finance officers play a pivotal role in helping taxpayers understand and comply with tax laws.

“You advise taxpayers on registration, maintaining proper records and ensuring that they comply fully with the law. That partnership is essential if we are to improve compliance,” she said.

Zimbabwe has increasingly relied on domestic tax revenues to finance public expenditure as limited access to international financing has increased pressure on internal revenue mobilisation. In response, ZIMRA has accelerated the rollout of digital tax platforms, strengthened compliance initiatives and introduced reforms aimed at reducing tax leakages, improving efficiency and expanding the country’s tax base.

Makwangudze said stronger collaboration between the tax authority and accounting professionals would be essential to building a more transparent, efficient and compliant tax system capable of supporting Zimbabwe’s long-term fiscal sustainability.

“Our success depends on working together. When accountants guide taxpayers to comply with the law and maintain accurate records, they strengthen the integrity of the tax system and contribute to sustainable revenue collection,” she said.

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Source: Bulawayo police arrest two, seize drugs worth over US$26,000 -Newsday Zimbabwe

BULAWAYO, Aug. 3 (NewsDay Live) – Bulawayo police have arrested two Tshabalala suburb residents for allegedly dealing in dangerous drugs and recovered large quantities of cannabis and cough syrup in separate weekend operations, with the seized drugs valued at more than US$26,000.

Bulawayo provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nomalanga Msebele said detectives from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Drugs and Narcotics Unit arrested Annet Sebele (38) and Fortune Tshabalala (42) following a tip-off from members of the public.

Police received information on August 1 that Sebele was allegedly operating a drug distribution business from her home.

“Detectives proceeded to the house and arrested the suspect, recovering four cobs of dagga weighing 1.8 kilogrammes with a street value of ZiG28,000. The dagga was stashed in a satchel she was carrying, and several empty sachets suggesting the drugs were being prepared for distribution were also recovered,” Msebele said.

During questioning, Sebele allegedly implicated Tshabalala, who was later arrested at a nearby house believed to have been used as a storage facility.

In a separate operation in Newton West during the early hours of August 2, detectives recovered about 30 kilogrammes of dagga and thousands of bottles of BronCleer cough syrup with a combined street value of US$26,429.

Msebele said detectives acted on information that dangerous drugs were being stored at a house in the suburb.

“The suspects immediately drove into the yard and locked the gate before abandoning the vehicle, jumping over the perimeter wall and fleeing into nearby bushland,” she said.

A search of the house led to the recovery of 36 cobs of dagga weighing about 30 kilogrammes, 58 boxes each containing 50 bottles of 100ml BronCleer cough syrup, as well as a further 447 loose 100ml bottles hidden in a spare bedroom.

No arrests had been made in connection with the Newton West case by the time police issued the statement, with investigations continuing to identify and apprehend the suspects.

Msebele commended members of the public for providing information that led to the arrests and seizures and urged communities to continue reporting drug-related activities.

“We also warn those unlawfully dealing in dangerous drugs that the law will take its course without fear or favour,” she said.

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The Education Crossroads: Zimbabwe’s June Exam Results Reveal a System in Flux HARARE – On a cool Monday evening in the capital, the Zimbabwe School Examinations Council (ZIMSEC) pulled back the curtain on the June 2026 Ordinary and Advanced Level results. What emerged was a statistical landscape of sharp contrasts: a plummeting pass rate for […]

The post Zimsec releases June 2026 exam results: Shocking 3% O-Level pass rate as A-Levels pass rate slightly goes up first appeared on My Zimbabwe News.

Source: Local companies generate strong business leads in Zambia – herald

Business Reporter

Zimbabwean companies participating at the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show generated a strong pipeline of potential deals, as interest in the national pavilion increased compared with previous editions of the exhibition.

The 26 companies exhibiting under the Zimbabwe pavilion met distributors, retailers, institutional buyers and other potential partners during the six-day show, with discussions covering supply contracts, distribution arrangements, market representation and long-term partnerships.

National trade development and promotion organisation, ZimTrade, said exhibitors recorded higher visitor traffic and more focused commercial engagements than in previous years.

Many potential buyers approached companies with specific questions about pricing, volumes, product availability, delivery capacity and distribution rights.

The increase in both the number and quality of engagements points to growing awareness of and demand for Zimbabwean products and services in the Zambian market.

ZimTrade communications manager, Danai Majaha, said Zimbabwe’s participation had achieved its broader objective of increasing the visibility of local companies and their products in Zambia.

“The level of interest recorded this year was higher than what we have seen during previous editions of the show.

“We had more visitors coming to the pavilion, but more importantly, the discussions were commercially focused.

“Buyers were asking about quantities, prices, distribution arrangements and the possibility of establishing long-term supply relationships,” he said.

Mr Majaha said the growth in commercial engagements demonstrated that Zimbabwean products were gaining recognition in the market.

“This increasing interest shows that Zimbabwean products and services are becoming more visible and are being considered by more buyers in Zambia.

“Our companies were able to meet decision-makers with clear business interests and the next step is to turn those discussions into orders and sustainable partnerships,” he said.

Mr Majaha noted that visits to the pavilion by leading Zambian industry players, Government representatives and public institutions also demonstrated commitment at both Government and private-sector level to increase bilateral trade.

“The visits by key industry players and Government representatives were significant because they showed that there is commitment to strengthening trade between Zimbabwe and Zambia.

“They also gave participating companies access to institutions and businesses that can support their entry and expansion in the Zambian market,” he said.

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