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The Lobola Curse: Inside the Bizarre Four-Year Marital Collapse of Blessing Togarepi MUTARE – In the quiet suburbs of Mutare, where the mist often clings to the Eastern Highlands, a man named Blessing Togarepi sits in a state of profound bewilderment. At first glance, Togarepi appears to be the embodiment of the Zimbabwean dream: a […]

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Source: AfDB rolls out US$4m debt clearance facility for Zim – herald

Oliver Kazunga

Senior Reporter

THE African Development Bank has launched a US$4 million programme to accelerate Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process, a major step expected to unlock international development financing and boost investor confidence.

The move is expected to also support the country’s drive towards an upper-middle-income society by 2030.

The three-year programme, which is called the Zimbabwe Arrears Clearance Dialogue Enhancement Project (ZACDEP), runs until June 2029 — and is expected to strengthen the Government’s engagement with international creditors while supporting key economic, governance and land reforms that underpin the country’s debt resolution roadmap.

The project comes as Zimbabwe intensifies efforts to normalise relations with international financial institutions following the recent successful conclusion of the first review of the International Monetary Fund’s Staff Monitored Programme.

Speaking at the ZACDEP launch event in Harare yesterday, the head of the Zimbabwe Public Debt Management Office, Mr Andrew Bvumbe, who was represented by deputy director for monitoring compliance and risk management Mr Tinotenda Karise, said resolving the country’s arrears remained critical to unlocking affordable development financing and attracting new investment into the economy.

“The clearance of arrears and debt resolution remains critical for macroeconomic stabilisation, promoting inward investments into our economy, unlocking development financing and achieving inclusive and sustainable economic growth.

“We are grateful to the AfDB for availing resources amounting to (UA3 million, approximately US$4 million) for this project.

“The project grant agreement was signed on 30 June 2026 and today marks the beginning of implementation for a period of three years up to 30 June 2029,” he said.

Mr Bvumbe said the US$4 million grant agreement marks a new phase in the implementation of Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution strategy.

He said the project would support the implementation of the arrears clearance roadmap, strengthen public debt management, improve governance, and reinforce oversight institutions, while building national consensus around reforms.

“The specific objectives of the project are to: support implementation of the Arrears Clearance and Debt Resolution Roadmap and economic stabilisation reforms; and create an enabling environment for arrears clearance and economic stabilisation through public debt, governance, land and oversight functions of state and non-state institutions,” said Mr Bvumbe.

He said ZACDEP was a new programme building on gains made under its predecessor—the   Support for Arrears Clearance and Governance Enhancement Project (SACAGE) Project, which ended last month after helping establish structured dialogue between the Government, creditors, development partners, civil society and the private sector.

The initiative, Mr Bvumbe said, had created sector working groups focusing on economic growth and stability, governance and land tenure reforms, providing an institutional platform for resolving long-standing economic challenges.

“The successor project has allowed a conversation between key stakeholders in order to address our challenges. This has allowed us to speak to each other and not to speak about each other,” said Mr Bvumbe.

He said Government had also made notable progress under the debt resolution roadmap through implementation of the IMF Staff-Monitored Programme and continued compensation of former farm owners under Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements, measures aimed at strengthening property rights and investor confidence.

The AfDB country manager for Zimbabwe, Ms Eyerusalem Fasika, who was represented by the bank’s officer-in-charge, Mr Webster Gondo, reaffirmed the financier’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process through the structured dialogue platform centred on economic reforms, governance and land compensation.

“The bank remains committed to supporting Zimbabwe’s Areas Clearance and Direct Resolution through the structured Dialogue Platform and its central project, namely economic growth, governance, land and compensation of former farm owners.

“If supported by a dedicated sector working group, we commend Government for engaging creditors and stakeholders for undertaking bold but necessary reforms critical to economic recovery,” she said.

“As the process starts for the implementation of the project, I call upon more stakeholders to rally behind Government in its support for the execution of the project.

“The bank realises that building local consensus through engagement with State institutions, civil society and private sector cannot be overemphasised.

“As such, it is important that the sector working groups should be used as platforms for ensuring that their agreed priorities through matrices aligned to each sector are aligned with National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) as well as other regional and international indicators as protocols.”

NDS2, which runs between 2026 and 2030, seeks to consolidate the achievements recorded under NDS1 (2021-2025) and accelerate the transformational process for attaining Vision 2030. 

The bank said the project’s implementation comes at an opportune time as Zimbabwe advances reforms under the IMF Staff-Monitored Programme and seeks to deepen engagement with international creditors.

Zimbabwe’s arrears clearance and debt resolution process is being led by President Mnangagwa with support from former AfDB president Dr Akinwumi Adesina as the champion, and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, who have facilitated structured engagement between Zimbabwe and its international creditors as the country works towards restoring full access to international capital markets.

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Source: Maize sales rocket 106pc as farmers deliver 313 000 tonnes – herald

Edgar Vhera

Specialist Writer – Agribusiness

CUMULATIVE maize sales by farmers between April 1 and July 24 have risen by 106 percent to 313 000 tonnes, compared to 152 000 tonnes in the same period last year.

This comes on the backdrop of growers warming up to the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) as their preferred market choice, a combined result of high prices and prompt payment.

The Agricultural Marketing Authority’s (AMA) latest weekly market report reveals that farmers had delivered 312 717 tonnes of maize to all maize buyers and agro-processors against last year’s delivery of 152 047 tonnes.

GMB intake rose 219 percent from 23 631 to 75 380 tonnes, while the Zimbabwe Mercantile Exchange’s (ZMX) procurement increased 224 percent from 7 307 to 23 660 tonnes.

Other buyers bought 213 677 tonnes of maize, a 76 percent jump from 121 109 tonnes.

Soyabean deliveries have also surged 58 percent to 45 744 tonnes from 28 924.

Sorghum intake rose 15 percent to 31 951 tonnes from 27 804 tonnes while sunflower deliveries fell eight percent to 5 181 from 5 631 tonnes.

In a recent media release, GMB chief executive, Dr Edison Badarai, said his organisation was the favourable buyer on the market and paying farmers high prices on time.

Maize and traditional grains are being bought at US$364, 75 per tonne.

“GMB prices are above the market as they reinforce confidence and guarantee farmers to mobilise input resources for the next cropping season, underscoring Government’s steadfast commitment to agriculture.

“Farmers are encouraged to make use of the 89 depots, the proximity of 1 804 ward-based buying points and transport logistics offered to deliver grain as GMB makes timely payments,” he said.

The board paid US$20 million and ZiG230 million for grain delivered since the marketing season opened on April 1, while settling outstanding obligations amounting to US$5,2 million and ZiG62 million.

This brought total payments to US$25,2 million and ZiG292 million.

“We have cleared everything. We encourage our farmers to continue delivering to GMB with the best price and we are paying within five days,” said Dr Badarai.

Some farmers in the Zimbabwe Agricultural Think Tank (ZATT) concur that GMB was paying them on time on the foreign currency component.

A farmer who requested anonymity said he had received the foreign currency portion on time and was still awaiting the ZiG component.

“I received a bulky payment in my Nostro account for sorghum and maize I delivered this year and that was on time, unlike in the past. I am still waiting for the ZiG portion and confidence among farmers is slowly building up,” he said.

Government crafted Statutory Instrument (SI) 87 of 2025 (CAP. 18:24) Agricultural Marketing Authority (Grain, Oilseed and Products) (Amendment) Regulations (No.2), to govern the importation of grains and oilseed products, as well as encourage local production.

To operationalise SI 87 of 2025, Government approved a new grain procurement and import verification framework designed to create a transparent, accountable system that prioritises local farmers while ensuring agro-processors continue to access grain supplies in an orderly and efficient manner, with effect from June 1.

Under the approved framework, grain buyers and agro-processors are required to procure a minimum of 40 percent of their grain requirements from the local market to qualify for imports of up to 60 percent of their requirements.

AMA will provide overall regulatory and supervisory oversight, while the ZMX will provide the online trading, reporting and verification platform responsible for monitoring procurement and import compliance.

GMB will provide the backbone storage infrastructure supporting the framework alongside approved private warehouse operators across the country.

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Source: President warns cartels in health sector – herald

Zvamaida Murwira, zvamaida.murwira@zimpapers.co.zw

PRESIDENT Mnangagwa has warned unscrupulous businesspersons in the health sector who operate as cartels and syndicates to inflate costs of goods and services for self-serving objectives thereby prejudicing patients.

The President, who is also Chancellor of all State universities, said this yesterday in his keynote address delivered after touring and commissioning the University of Zimbabwe Industrial Incubation Centre in Msasa and the Specialists Medical Centre in Avondale.

“The Ministry of Health and Child Care, together with related Agencies, are directed to remove the barriers of entry in the establishment of specialist health care facilities and services. Hatidi ma gate-keepers, nema cartels mu health sector, vanhu vedu vachitadza kurapwa zvakanaka, nemutengo uripasi. Kwete. Ngative nehanya, tikoshese hutano we vanhu vekwedu,” said President Mnangagwa.

“My Government will not accept the prevalence of the opportunists and so-called health sector ‘cartels and syndicates’, who operate to the detriment of our people. Let those with ears hear this stern exhortation.”

He commended the University of Zimbabwe, saying the health centre had shown that innovation was not just about creating new products, but also about revitalising and re-purposing existing infrastructure to best suit the current national realities.

“The newly established Specialist Medical Centre further complements the ongoing Government’s Presidential Hospital Renovation and Modernisation Programme. Going forward, Vice Chancellor (Professor Paul Mapfumo), it is my hope that the Quinary Hospital currently under construction will soon be completed to augment the present reforms towards the modernisation of our national health delivery system and the realisation of Universal Health Coverage,” he said.

“Meanwhile, I call upon the university, along with other upcoming health facilities, in both the public and private sectors, to deliberately ensure that new facilities are equipped with modern, state-of-the-art equipment that compares well with others in developed jurisdictions. All investments in the health sector should translate to improved health delivery and associated foreign currency retention, where our people travel less to other countries for health care.”

He commended the UZ for coming up with two signature developmental projects, saying the institution was playing an integral role in driving the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 being spearheaded by the Government.

“Such projects validate the success of the Heritage-based Education 5.0 Model that continues to position our higher and tertiary institutions as critical cogs in the ongoing industrialisation, modernisation and development of our economy,” he said.

He described the UZ Industrial Incubation Centre as a commendable initiative, saying it reflected the institution’s commitment to providing the requisite leadership in the country’s higher education space to drive national development.

“This is more so that the incubation centre is the endpoint where start-ups shall be developed towards commercialisation and market participation. This is after ideas commence and are nurtured in the laboratories and workshops, moving through the Innovation Hub for prototyping, product development and startup registration,” he said.

“It is impressive that the startup companies hosted in the industrial incubation centre are student-led, resulting from their final year projects, research and scholarly work. Under my administration, promising innovations will continue to be granted innovation hub status and supported by Government. I am confident that this approach will provide impetus for our young talented students to develop their ideas into products, goods and services.”

President Mnangagwa said there was scope for the student-led start-up companies to produce goods and services required by the country’s economy and help to reduce the US$2,5 billion import bill being spent in the manufacturing sector.

“Judging from the crop of confident and innovative Executives of Start-up companies, our country is indeed on the right path of irreversible industrialisation and modernisation. I challenge the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, universities along with stakeholders in Industry including financial institutions, to scale up support for Start-Up companies emanating from the Heritage Based Education 5.0 Model,” said President Mnangagwa.

“Through the ‘Whole of Government and Society Approach’, let us continue to give our young talented boys and girls a chance to develop their ideas and exploit their full potential for the benefit of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe.”
President Mnangagwa said it was encouraging that UZ was now celebrating the successful outcomes of 11 Start-up companies, resident at the Industrial Incubation Centre.

“The University of Zimbabwe Industrial Incubation Centre must thus not merely be a workspace for graduate innovators, but steadily evolve into an industrial production hub that supports manufacturing, technology development, value addition and enterprise growth.

“To this end, our Small to Medium Enterprises and other established industries should find value at the Industrial Incubation Centre, given the wide range of services offered at the facility,” he said.

President Mnangagwa said universities must play their part and take responsibility for the country’s needs through research, science, innovation and technology.

“The exhibits and displays, I have always witnessed from the University Research-Innovation Industrialisation Ecosystem, demonstrate unprecedented progress in repositioning our universities as solution-driven agents for the development of our beloved motherland, Zimbabwe. The wide range of products and services, which cover the critical sectors of our economy, is a reflection that we can achieve Vision 2030 and build the Zimbabwe we all want, through our own capacity and skills,” he said.

President Mnangagwa commended the institutions for taking a wide range of research and innovation initiatives such as smart agricultural equipment, solar-powered systems and drone technologies for precision agriculture, saying it dovetailed with the current agro-industrialisation thrust.

“It is my expectation that developments in this direction ultimately help farmers increase productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, optimise irrigation systems and modernise agricultural production systems,” he said.

On value addition and beneficiation of minerals, President Mnangagwa said his Government had assigned State Universities the responsibilities to ensure that the country achieves high-value outputs from the country’s natural resource endowments.

“The establishment of the National Minerals Research Centre that facilitates the value addition of a variety of minerals, including lithium, rare earth elements and uranium, among others, is now urgent. As Chancellor, I want to emphasise the importance of this strategic national assignment, which I require universities to carry out with utmost diligence, honesty and integrity, for the benefit of both present and future generations, in our motherland, Zimbabwe,” he said.

The event was attended by Vice President Kembo Mohadi, Cabinet Ministers, Vice Chancellors from other institutions of higher learning, academics, captains of industry and senior Government officials.

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Source: Goverment unveils Infrastructure Fund for major road rehab programme – herald

Rutendo Nyeve, rutendo.nyeve@sundaynews.co.zw
THE Government has unveiled an Infrastructure Fund dedicated towards rehabilitation of roads and bridges across Zimbabwe, with works expected to commence soon.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona, revealed this in Parliament last week, where he outlined the Government’s comprehensive strategy to address the damage caused by heavy rains and to tackle the nation’s broader infrastructure challenges.
The new Infrastructure Fund emerges as a crucial intervention following extensive consultations between the
Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development and the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion.
The fund is designed to mobilise resources specifically for the rehabilitation of roads and construction of damaged bridges, marking a pivotal step in addressing the country’s infrastructure deficit.
Minister Mhona has said the rehabilitation efforts will be rolled out under the theme of ‘Road Rehabilitation Programme 2’.
The intervention will see the resumption of works across the country, with both urban and rural councils, alongside the Department of Roads, playing a key role in the implementation.
A key focus will be on completing all stalled projects, ensuring that no ongoing work is left unfinished. Minister
Mhona acknowledged the dual-edged nature of the recent wet season.
“We indeed had good rains, but this was a disadvantage too because roads and bridges were damaged. When we look at the amount of money allocated to us, this money is too little to cater for all roads that were damaged,” he said.
“We sat down as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development and the Ministry of Finance, Economic
Development and Investment Promotion and discussed ways of mobilising resources to rehabilitate our roads and bridges.
“I am happy to inform you that we now have an Infrastructure Fund to cater for this problem of road rehabilitation and construction of damaged bridges. Starting from this week, we will resume the rehabilitation of our roads under the theme of Road Rehabilitation Programme 2, with our urban and rural councils and the Department of Roads.
“This will cover a lot of bridges and roads. You will begin to see improvements. All projects that were not completed will be completed; we call these projects ‘stalled projects’,” said Minister Mhona.
He underscored the impact of heavy vehicles in the degradation of the road network and reiterated the Government’s commitment to promoting the use of rail transport to preserve the country’s roads.
The minister said enforcement by the Vehicle Inspection Department (VID) is being strengthened to catch transporters who overload the roads.
To further alleviate pressure on the road network, the Government is encouraging private companies, including those in the mining sector, to partner with the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
The Mutapa Investment Fund is also overseeing the revival of the NRZ, with efforts underway to save money for rolling stock such as wagons.
The Minister highlighted Zimbabwe’s advantage.
“Our railway is there, but in other countries, you would have to construct. Here in our country, we have got our strong railway,” he said.
Minister Mhona reaffirmed the Government’s dedication to improving the railway network to ensure that more goods are transported by rail rather than road, a move expected to significantly extend the lifespan of the newly rehabilitated roads.

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