Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Government reaffirms commitment to ease of doing business – herald

Nyore Madzianike

Senior Reporter

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing reforms aimed at improving the ease of doing business, attracting domestic and foreign investment, strengthening investor confidence and enhancing the country’s competitiveness.

Speaking at the 2026 Global Business Achievers Network awards and dinner ceremony in Harare, Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi said Government remained committed to unlocking the full potential of its people, particularly young innovators, while creating an environment in which enterprise can thrive.

The awards recognised entrepreneurs who excelled in leadership across various sectors of the economy.

“As Government, we firmly believe that a vibrant private sector remains the engine of sustainable economic growth.

“We therefore continue implementing reforms that improve the ease of doing business, attract domestic and foreign investment, strengthen investor confidence and enhance Zimbabwe’s competitiveness.

“We are committed to unlocking the full potential of our people, particularly our young innovators, and ensuring that enterprise thrives in a stable, predictable, and digitally progressive environment,” he said.

Vice President Dr Mohadi said effective public-private collaboration remained indispensable to national development, adding that when governance and enterprise align, development accelerates.

“When transparency and accountability guide our actions, confidence grows.

“And when integrity defines leadership, prosperity becomes sustainable,” he said.

He said Zimbabwe was richly endowed with natural resources and human capital, with Government’s strategic focus remaining on industrialisation and value addition.

“We must build industries that create jobs, strengthen domestic production capacity and position Zimbabwe competitively within regional and global markets,” he said.

Vice President Dr Mohadi welcomed the recognition of youth-led enterprises and women in business, saying empowering women and young entrepreneurs strengthened economic inclusion and reinforced national resilience.

“An inclusive economy is a stable economy, and an empowered generation secures our future.

“As we celebrate excellence tonight, let us reaffirm our commitment to corporate governance, transparency, accountability and ethical leadership.

“Let excellence be accompanied by integrity.

“Let profitability be matched by responsibility.

“Let growth be guided by principle.”

Vice President Dr Mohadi said Zimbabwe continued to advance regional integration under the SADC framework and the African Continental Free Trade Area, creating opportunities for youth and emerging businesses to access continental markets, engage in cross-border partnerships and develop regional value chains.

“Zimbabwe is open for business and for youth-driven innovation,” he said.

He commended the award recipients, saying they exemplified the determination, resilience and innovation required to realise Vision 2030.

“Your achievements demonstrate that despite challenges, Zimbabweans possess the ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit to succeed.

“I encourage today’s award winners to continue striving for excellence, mentoring emerging entrepreneurs, particularly young people and women, so that together we build a stronger, more inclusive economy.

“To those who may not receive awards this evening, remember that success is not measured by recognition alone.

“Continue pursuing excellence with integrity, discipline and perseverance.

“Your contribution to national development remains equally important,” he said.

Vice President Dr Mohadi reiterated Government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, innovate and flourish.

“The journey towards an upper middle-income economy requires partnerships between the Government, the private sector, academia, civil society, development partners and communities.

“Together, we can unlock Zimbabwe’s vast economic potential and create sustainable prosperity for present and future generations”.

He said national development was a shared responsibility requiring Government, business, civil society and citizens to contribute meaningfully towards building a prosperous Zimbabwe.

Describing the awards ceremony as strategic rather than merely symbolic, Vice President Dr Mohadi said recognising achievement strengthened the national culture of productivity, accountability and innovation.

“By recognising achievement, we strengthen our national culture of productivity, accountability, and innovation.

“We affirm that excellence matters, we reinforce the centrality of ethical leadership, and we inspire others to pursue distinction in their respective areas of operation.”

Vice President Dr Mohadi said under the National Development Strategy 2, Zimbabwe remained firmly committed to attaining Vision 2030, adding that the country’s youthful population represented a tremendous national asset that Government was committed to harnessing.

He said Government was walking the talk on youth empowerment by streamlining legislative and policy frameworks to ensure young people’s participation across all sectors of the economy.

“To date, the Government has put in place strategies and policies such as the National Youth Empowerment Strategy and the National Youth Policy, all meant to advance youth empowerment.

“Distinguished Guests, through institutions such as the Empower Bank and the Zimbabwe Women’s Microfinance Bank, the Government continues to roll out collateral-free, low-interest funding models, ensuring that women and young entrepreneurs can transition from informal trading to formal, scalable corporate entities,” he said.

Vice President Dr Mohadi said Government had operationalised innovation hubs and industrial parks across State universities, transforming institutions of higher learning into centres of commercialised technology, start-ups and intellectual property.

He said Government had also initiated specialised mechanisation programmes, land allocation quotas and gold mining formalisation initiatives under which thousands of young Zimbabweans were actively transforming the primary production sectors.

“All these interventions are enabling youth and women-owned enterprises to grow, create employment and improve livelihoods across both rural and urban communities,” he said.

Vice President Dr Mohadi said no nation could achieve sustainable development without a vibrant private sector.

“Business drives investment, stimulates production, creates employment, advances innovation and generates revenue for national development.”

The ceremony was attended by business people drawn from across all sectors.

The post Government reaffirms commitment to ease of doing business appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: E-tolling express lanes rolled out at Inkomo, Lion’s Den tollgates – herald

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

The Government is accelerating the modernisation of road infrastructure through a dual push to expand physical tollgate capacity and introduce electronic tolling.

Two major lane-widening projects have since been completed, with a nationwide e-tolling rollout underway.

Works have been completed on the Inkomo and Lion’s Den tollgate lane-widening projects in Mashonaland West province.

The project was undertaken through collaboration between the Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) and local contractors and is designed to improve traffic flow, while enhancing tolling experience for motorists.

Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (RIDA), one of the contractors, handed over the completed Inkomo project to ZINARA on Wednesday, with the Lion’s Den handover scheduled for Thursday.

These upgrades form part of a broader initiative that will see dedicated express lanes installed at all 29 tollgates nationwide, allowing motorists registered under the new electronic tolling platform to pass through without stopping for manual payments.

The new system uses Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology to reduce congestion, shorten waiting times and improve toll-collection efficiency.

Motorists will use RFID-enabled electronic tags, known as e-Tags, affixed to their windscreens.

As a vehicle approaches the tollgate, the system automatically scans and verifies the tag, opening the boom gate without requiring the driver to stop for cash payment or manual processing.

Construction is already under way at Umguza Tollgate along the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway in Matabeleland North, where single-lane approaches are being expanded to three lanes in each direction.

One lane on either side will be reserved exclusively for electronic toll payments, while the remaining lanes will continue to handle conventional payment methods.

According to ZINARA, the Department of Roads under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development is overseeing quality assurance.

“The dedicated express lanes are designed for motorists using electronic and prepaid toll payment platforms,” ZINARA said in a statement.

“They separate electronic and contactless transactions from cash and other conventional payment methods, allowing faster processing of vehicles.”

Under the current system, all motorists queue together regardless of payment method, resulting in longer transaction times – particularly for cash payments.

ZINARA said the express lanes will significantly improve traffic flow during peak periods such as public holidays and heavy travel seasons.

The project forms part of Government’s broader strategy to modernise tolling infrastructure and embrace technology – driven service delivery across the transport sector.

“Government has adopted a long-term strategy to progressively modernise tolling infrastructure across the country, with the rollout of express lanes forming a key component of that strategy,” ZINARA said.

“Future implementation will prioritise tollgates that experience comparatively high traffic volumes, particularly those located along major national highways.”

The e-tolling programme is expected to strengthen revenue assurance, improve operational efficiency and enhance the overall customer experience.

ZINARA noted that faster movement of people and goods supports economic productivity, tourism, regional trade and logistics efficiency.

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Source: All eyes on Prof Mthuli’s Mid-Term Budget Review – herald

Oliver Kazunga

Senior Reporter

ALL is set for the 2026 Mid-Term Budget Review by Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube on Thursday amid expectations from business and consumers for measures to sustain economic growth, accelerate infrastructure development and support productive sectors.

The statement is expected to provide an assessment of the economy’s performance during the first half of the year while outlining policy adjustments aimed at maintaining momentum towards the country’s Vision 2030 development agenda.

Business leaders, economists, and players in the construction sector are expected to closely scrutinise the review for possible revisions to economic growth projections, fiscal measures to stimulate investment, tax policy adjustments and increased funding for strategic infrastructure projects.

The business community is also keen to hear Treasury’s assessment of revenue performance, inflation trends, exchange rate stability and progress in implementing commitments announced in the 2026 National Budget.

The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) president Ms Josephine Takundwa said the chamber has undertaken a comprehensive review of the tax system and has developed detailed recommendations to support efficiency, equity, and growth-oriented fiscal policy.

“Regarding the tobacco excise duty framework and its implications for investment, revenue mobilisation, industrial sustainability, and regulatory effectiveness, the chamber’s position is guided by three principles: maximisation of sustainable fiscal revenues, preservation of productive industries and formal employment, and the reduction of illicit trade and regulatory leakages,” she said.

“The tobacco industry remains an important contributor to Zimbabwe’s economy through agriculture, manufacturing, exports, employment creation, and tax revenues.

“Any changes to the excise framework should, therefore, be evaluated not only on their immediate revenue implications but also on their impact on compliance, investment, and the long-term viability of the value chain.”

Ms Takundwa said ZNCC membership recognises the Government’s efforts to stabilise the monetary environment, including the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG).

“However, from a tax policy design perspective, the current mixed excise system remains more vulnerable to currency movements due to its ad valorem component,” she said.

“Transitioning to a specific excise duty regime would materially improve stability and predictability. “It would also reduce administrative complexity for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), as ad valorem taxation requires constant monitoring and verification of ex-factory prices.

“Many jurisdictions increasingly rely on specific excise structures because they are easier to administer and less vulnerable to manipulation. The existing dual excise structure exposes the tax system to manipulation. The ad valorem component is inherently vulnerable to practices such as under-declaration of ex-factory prices by scrupulous manufacturers and importers, which directly erodes excise collections.

“In principle, products within the same category should converge around comparable ex-factory prices. By contrast, a specific excise duty delivers more stable, transparent, and predictable revenues, shielding collections from price manipulation and inflationary pressures.”

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Source: We’ve got the people’s trust, says President – herald

Joseph Madzimure and Zvamaida Murwira
PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has described the overwhelming endorsement of Constitution of Zimbabwe Act (Number Three), which introduced key reforms to the supreme law, as clear testament to the trust Zimbabweans have placed in Zanu PF to improve their quality of life and warned malcontents that they will be exposed and rejected.
Speaking at the 395th Ordinary Session of the Politburo yesterday, the President, who is also the revolutionary party’s First Secretary, said Zanu PF’s governance structures must intensify their work to expand national wealth and deliver tangible benefits to the people.
“Through the recent Constitutional Amendments, our beloved party membership and people of the motherland have bestowed immense trust on Zanu PF. It is, thus, incumbent on us to constantly enhance the manner we execute and dispense our weighty duties and responsibilities, in an ever-changing environment,” he said.
The upliftment of the lives of people, the President said, was the core aim and objective of his Government.
“So far, the national Vision 2030 is clearly articulated and being meticulously pursued. Going forward, our Party’s governance should do more to realise the intricate balance between expanding national wealth and the embedded objective of improving the wellbeing of our people,” he said.
Under the Second Republic, President Mnangagwa said, sustainable economic growth is increasingly evident in every sector.

He highlighted that mineral export earnings continue on an upward trajectory, with increased revenues as a direct result of value addition, beneficiation and investment being advanced by the Zanu PF-led Government.
“Likewise, the manufacturing, tourism and infrastructure development sectors, among others, have recorded higher contributions to overall Gross Domestic Product,” he said.
“The commendation of our reforms and macro-economic stability framework by the International Monetary Fund and the Staff Monitored Programme attest to the integrity of our policies and the economic fundamentals that we are implementing”.
Additionally, he said, Zimbabwe’s admission into the BRICS New Development Bank is a notable achievement that will widen the country’s access to alternative, long-term and sustainable development financing, under NDS-2.
President Mnangagwa said economic growth alone was not enough, but should respond to the people’s aspirations for a better life.
He said under the ‘Whole of Government and Society Approach’ being pursued by the Second Republic, officials from both Government and Party should regularly engage and visit stakeholders and communities at the grassroots level to have an appreciation of their challenges.
“As a people-centred party, we cannot have a one-size-fits-all approach to development, but tailor-make carefully assessed policies, projects, and programmes that meet local conditions to increase the pace at which we lift more of our people out of poverty, into a better standard of living,” said President Mnangagwa.

Against the positive economic trajectory, the President commended Zimbabwe for the peaceful environment that has enabled the country to flourish, but warned that there are some divisive elements bent on undermining political stability.
“Divisive narratives, hate and denigration of our national institutions, including machinations of whatever form, have no place in our modern and maturing constitutional democracy. Tingwarire vane mweya walegion. Isu seMusangano, nehurumende, takasvinura, tiri kukuonai. Counter-revolutionary and retrogressive elements, on whatever platform, must be exposed and rejected,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Preserving, safeguarding and protecting our peace, security, unity and development remains our collective moral and sacred duty; household by household and village by village. Munyika yedu yechipikirwa, Zimbabwe, iwe neni, tose tine basa.”
Turning to the forthcoming 23rd Zanu PF National People’s Conference to be held in Chinhoyi, Mashonaland West province later this year, President Mnangagwa said preparations were going on well.
He said the preoccupation on the conference was not the number of attendees, but the quality of deliberations.
“It is the policy output, resolution and impactful decisions we make, and how these will transform our economic, social and political landscape for the betterment of our nation. I appeal that we never lose sight of this fact,” said President Mnangagwa.
“To this end, I exhort party organs and Government Ministries to examine and track the implementation of conference and Congress outcomes, resolutions and decisions, ahead of this crucial annual gathering.”

He urged party organs and Government Ministries to examine and track the implementation of Conference and Congress outcomes, resolutions and decisions, ahead of this year’s conference, adding that the Standing Committees of the Central Committee should equally help in that regard.
“Through the Office of the Secretary General, I expect all resolutions and recommendations emanating from the Standing Committees and adopted by the Central Committee to be consolidated, processed and channelled through the appropriate Party and Government structures for implementation or review. Every Party decision should translate into practical steps that ultimately uplift the livelihoods of our people,” said President Mnangagwa.
He called upon all party organs and structures to ensure that resources were mobilised ahead of the conference.
“In doing so, everyone must strictly comply with the Guidelines for Receiving Donations, as recently circulated through the Secretary General’s Office. May I hasten to once again highlight that the Party is supreme over Government and over any individual member or group of members. The synergy between the Party and Government must help refine our collective efforts,” he said.
“Cadres deployed in Government, are directed to carry out their sacred responsibility by faithfully implementing Party policies and resolutions, with utmost diligence and patriotism. Any dissonance between Party policy decisions and the Government implementation agents is unacceptable.”
President Mnangagwa noted that the Politburo was being held as the country prepared to commemorate the National Heroes Day and Defence Forces Day next month.
“This period is, therefore, an opportune time for introspection and recalibration, with regard to the collective legacy we must bequeath to future generations. The rich history of our colossal revolutionary mass party Zanu PF, along with the social, economic as well as political evolution of the nation, is unique, and in most cases, without templates to understudy,” he said.
The meeting deliberated on various issues affecting the party and the nation and proffered solutions to improve the quality of lives.

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Source: 15 000 farms surveyed for issuance of title deeds – herald

Theseus Mauruki Shambare

Herald Correspondent

ABOUT 15 000 farms have so far been surveyed under the Government’s land tenure programme, paving way for the issuance of title deeds as authorities accelerate efforts to provide secure and bankable tenure to beneficiaries of the Land Reform Programme.

Addressing the media on yesterday, Land Tenure Stakeholders Engagement Committee chairperson Cde Happison Muchechetere said Government was now processing title deeds for surveyed farms.

He urged farmers whose land has not yet been surveyed to register at their nearest district lands offices before travelling to the One-Stop Centre in Harare.

Cde Muchechetere said surveying remained a prerequisite for the issuance of title deeds.

“So far, there are between 10 000 and 15 000 farms that have been completely surveyed and we are dealing with those farms,” said Cde Muchechetere.

“What we need to do now is that all those people with farms that have not been surveyed, go to your nearest lands office and register with the officials.”

He said the registration would enable the Government to establish the number of farms requiring surveys in each district and deploy survey teams accordingly.

“This will make it easy for Government to know how many farms need to be surveyed in which district and the process would be quickened by us knowing whether your farm has been surveyed or not,” he said.

Cde Muchechetere said the One-Stop Centre in Harare had been inundated with farmers travelling from across the country to apply for title deeds, only for many to discover that their farms had not yet been surveyed.

“We have noticed that our One-Stop Centre is now inundated with everybody else coming to try to register for the title deeds,” he said.

“We have people coming from as far as Binga and Mutare, but when most of them come here, it is found that their farms are not surveyed. We cannot issue a title deed on an unsurveyed farm.”

He urged farmers to first visit their nearest district lands offices to verify the status of their farms and register for surveying, saying this would save time, reduce travel costs and speed up processing.

Cde Muchechetere said the title deed programme, launched by President Mnangagwa, is designed to conclude Zimbabwe’s Land Reform Programme by providing beneficiaries with secure land tenure.

He said Government expects approximately 360 000 A1 farmers and 24 000 A2 farmers to ultimately receive title deeds.

Cde Muchechetere said farms occupied by multiple beneficiaries must be surveyed as a single unit before individual title deeds can be processed, adding that all beneficiaries on the same farm need to participate in the survey exercise.

He said officials from the Land Tenure Implementation Committee would also register farmers during provincial agricultural shows to decentralise the programme and improve access to services.

The decentralised registration drive is expected to accelerate the issuance of title deeds while easing pressure on the Harare One-Stop Centre and bringing services closer to farming communities.

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