Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: 72 000 repatriated through Beitbridge – herald

Rutendo Nyeve-Zimpapers Reporter

MORE than 140 000 Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals fleeing anti-migrant violence in South Africa have been repatriated through the Beitbridge Border Post, as Government intensifies efforts to receive, process and reintegrate returnees under a coordinated humanitarian response.

In an interview yesterday, chief director of Immigration Ms Respect Gono said the Department of Immigration had processed 72 658 nationals returning home, while 72 272 Malawians had transited through Zimbabwe.

“I can safely inform you that currently we have repatriated 72 658 Zimbabweans. They have been assisted to come back home. The returnees are all welcome back home and they can come in any time and we are there to accommodate them and ensure that they are safe,” she said.

Ms Gono said immigration officials continue to facilitate the safe passage of Malawian nationals travelling from South Africa.

“So far we have cleared 72 272 Malawians. I want to advise the public that we accompany all the buses that are carrying Malawian nationals. We come from Beitbridge and leave them at Nyamapanda Border Post,” she said.

Ms Gono said the coordinated operation involves the Department of Immigration, police, embassy officials and other Government agencies to ensure the safe movement of returnees across the country.

Government has also relaxed documentation requirements to speed up the reintegration of returning Zimbabweans.

The Civil Registry Department has deployed officers to Beitbridge to process birth certificates and national identity documents, prioritising returnees who lost documents.

Registrar-General Mr Henry Machiri said the Civil Registry was part of the inter-ministerial committee established by President Mnangagwa to coordinate the repatriation, reception and reintegration programme.

“The President established an inter-ministerial committee, which is based at Beitbridge, to assist the returning residents from South Africa.

“We, as the Civil Registry in the Ministry of Home Affairs, are part of this inter-ministerial committee. We are there on the ground to assist them,” said Mr Machiri.

He said many returnees, particularly children born in South Africa, were arriving without birth certificates or supporting documents.

“Some of those people are coming back with children who do not have birth certificates, and they do not have even the supporting documents because either they were burnt or they left in a hurry. Those people, we are assisting them,” he said.

“It is necessary that we give them the documents. Some of the children have never been to Zimbabwe, and now they are coming back. We need to assist in the integration of these people because they are our citizens.”

Mr Machiri said while some returnees are receiving birth certificates and national identity documents at the border post, others are being referred to registry offices in their home districts because of the large numbers being processed.

The repatriation programme is part of the Government’s humanitarian response following anti-migrant violence that erupted in parts of South Africa, forcing thousands of foreign nationals to return to their countries of origin.

President Mnangagwa directed the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee and a national command centre to coordinate the reception, transportation and reintegration of returning Zimbabweans.

The Government has deployed Zupco buses to ferry returnees from Beitbridge to their home provinces, while the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre provides temporary shelter, meals, healthcare, psychosocial support and documentation services.

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Source: Zim unveils US$340m broadband pipeline – herald

Oliver Kazunga-Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE has unveiled a US$340,1 million broadband investment pipeline projected to generate over US$3,8 billion in revenue, signalling a major push to accelerate digital transformation and attract private capital.

The project is contained in the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) prospectus released recently and is expected to be implemented through Public-Private Partnerships.

The investment pipeline is expected to extend broadband services to more than 900 000 households and Small-to-Medium Enterprises (SMEs) connected to the electricity grid, connect a further 114 000 homes through fibre and provide wireless broadband to 500 000 users in rural and peri-urban communities, accelerating Zimbabwe’s transition towards a digitally connected economy.

In line with the aspirations of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, the project seeks to stimulate economic growth, improve access to digital services and attract private investment into the country’s ICT sector.

The proposed investment comprise TelOne’s Wireless Broadband Deployment programme, TelOne’s Fibre-to-The-Home (FTTH) rollout and Powertel Communications’ Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) project.

These are designed to address low Internet penetration by improving broadband speed, reliability and quality while expanding connectivity to households, businesses and underserved rural communities.

The largest investment opportunity is TelOne’s Wireless Broadband Deployment project, which requires US$263,2 million and is projected to generate US$2,9 billion in revenue.

The project seeks to improve internet connectivity in Midlands, Manicaland, Masvingo and Matabeleland South through the deployment of approximately 1 600 wireless base stations targeting 500 000 rural and peri-urban users.

“The Wireless Broadband Deployment project aims to improve internet connectivity in underserved regions of Southern and Eastern Zimbabwe, including Midlands, Matabeleland, Masvingo, and Manicaland.

“Promoted by TelOne Private Limited, this US$263,2 million initiative involves deploying approximately 1 600 wireless base stations under a Build, Lease, Maintain, and Transfer (BLMT) Public Private Partnership model,” reads part of the prospectus.

“The project targets connecting 500 000 users in rural and peri-urban areas, addressing the digital divide and fostering digital inclusion.”

TelOne’s Fibre-to-the-Home project proposes a US$50 million investment to connect an estimated 114 000 homes across Zimbabwe through broadband infrastructure.

“The project involves the installation of Fibre to the Home (FTTH) broadband infrastructure to connect approximately 114 000 homes across various locations in Zimbabwe.” it said.

The FTTH project is projected to generate US$719 million in revenue and will be implemented under a Build, Lease, Maintain and Transfer (BLMT) Public-Private Partnership model.

Powertel Communications’ GPON project requires an investment of US$26,9 million and is projected to generate revenues of US$231 million.

The project targets more than 900 000 households and SMEs connected to the electricity grid via fibre-optic infrastructure deployed along existing power lines.

“The project involves the deployment of optic fibre network that utilises GPON technology for the provision of ICT services, mainly broadband internet.

“The Powertel GPON project seeks to deliver high-speed internet and telecommunications services. Overhead optical fibre cables will be deployed on existing powerline infrastructure in metropolitan and rural areas around Zimbabwe.

“GPON technology will be deployed as the active equipment to enable customers to access internet services over the optical fibre network.

“The target market is the more than 900 000 households and SMEs connected to the electricity grid who need tactile internet that is highly available, reliable, secure and fast,” said the agency.

The projects are forecast to deliver strong returns, with TelOne’s Wireless Broadband Deployment programme expected to achieve the highest return on investment at 60 percent, followed by Powertel’s GPON project at 56,94 percent and TelOne’s FTTH rollout at 47,1 percent.

Projected payback periods range from four years and nine months for the FTTH project to five years for the wireless broadband initiative and 10 years for the Powertel GPON rollout.

If implemented, the three projects would rank among Zimbabwe’s biggest broadband infrastructure investments, widening access to high-speed Internet, supporting digital innovation, strengthening service delivery and creating new opportunities for businesses and communities as the country advances towards an upper middle-income economy by 2030.

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Source: US$1,5m lithium rail siding boosts exports – herald

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu

THE Second Republic has taken another major step in modernising Zimbabwe’s transport infrastructure with the commissioning of a US$1,5 million lithium transshipment rail siding in West Nicholson, Matabeleland South, strengthening mineral exports and advancing the country’s drive towards rail-based bulk cargo transportation.

The facility, commissioned yesterday, dispatched its first consignment of lithium concentrate from Gwanda to the Port of Maputo in Mozambique, marking the beginning of a new export corridor expected to improve logistics efficiency and reduce reliance on road transport.

Developed by the Beitbridge Bulawayo Railway (BBR) in partnership with Silvergill and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), the siding is designed to handle lithium concentrates as well as other strategic minerals, including chrome, ferrochrome and iron ore, positioning Matabeleland South as a key logistics hub for bulk mineral exports.

The investment dovetails with the Second Republic’s infrastructure-led development agenda, which aligns with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2) and Vision 2030, which prioritise the rehabilitation of rail infrastructure, value addition, industrialisation, improved regional connectivity and increased export competitiveness.

It also complements Government’s policy of maximising value from the country’s mineral resources through efficient logistics and integrated value chains.

Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, BBR general manager Mr Khumbulani Tendai Mabvura said the West Nicholson siding is a major breakthrough in strengthening Zimbabwe’s mining logistics network.

“We are witnessing the opening of a new logistics gateway for bulk minerals, a renewed commitment to rail-based transport and a strong message that Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development agenda is alive and moving forward. The first train departing from this siding carries processed lithium concentrates destined for Maputo,” he said.

Mr Mabvura said the siding will provide mining companies with a safer, more efficient and sustainable means of transporting heavy cargo.

“It will give industry a practical alternative to moving heavy cargo by road and it will help reduce the pressure currently being placed on our national road network,” he said.

“This is part of Zimbabwe’s movement from simply having mineral resources in the ground to building value chains that connect production, processing, logistics and export markets. As BBR, we have taken seriously the national call by His Excellency, President Mnangagwa, that Zimbabwe is open for business.”

Mr Mabvura said the project represents an investment of about US$1,5 million.

“In the current environment, that is not a small commitment. It is a statement of confidence in the economy, in the mining sector, in the rail sector and in the leadership direction that has placed infrastructure development at the centre of national transformation,” he said.

Mr Mabvura said rail transport remains the most suitable option for bulk freight over long distances because it is safer, more efficient and environmentally sustainable.

He urged Government to consider allocating a defined proportion of bulk mineral cargo to rail transport.

“The road and rail must complement each other. Increased utilisation of rail transport will reduce pressure on the road network. This will lower road maintenance costs, improve road safety, reduce congestion, reduce traffic load and road degradation and contribute to environmental sustainability through more efficient freight transportation,” said Mr Mabvura.

Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Albert Nguluvhe described the project as a model of successful collaboration between Government and the private sector.

He said the facility strengthens the country’s position as a regional transport and logistics hub while enhancing trade corridors linking the country to neighbouring states and international markets.

The minister said the siding will improve the movement of lithium from Gwanda mines, enabling Zimbabwe to take advantage of growing global demand for critical minerals used in clean energy technologies.

“This investment directly supports Government’s vision of achieving an upper-middle-income economy by Vision 2030. It is fully aligned with the objectives of the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which prioritises the implementation of transformative infrastructure projects that stimulate industrialisation, enhance productivity and improve regional competitiveness,” he said.

“As Government, we remain committed to creating a conducive policy and regulatory environment that encourages investment, promotes transparency and ensures mutually beneficial partnerships that contribute to sustainable economic growth and national prosperity.”

Minister Nguluvhe said efficient transport systems are critical to industrialisation, trade and national competitiveness, adding that Government remains focused on modernising transport infrastructure to unlock economic opportunities.

The latest development also underpins the Second Republic’s broader transport sector reforms, which include the ongoing recapitalisation of the NRZ, rehabilitation of strategic rail corridors and increased private sector participation in rail infrastructure.

The initiatives are aimed at shifting heavy freight from roads to rail, reducing logistics costs, extending the lifespan of the national road network and improving Zimbabwe’s competitiveness as a regional trade and transit hub.

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Source: PSC rolls out capacity-building programme for civil servants – herald

Ryan Sibanda-Bulawayo Bureau

THE Public Service Commission has rolled out a nationwide capacity-building programme for civil servants, with officials from Matabeleland North among the first beneficiaries of a five-day seminar that began in Bulawayo yesterday.

The programme is part of the Government’s ongoing public service reforms aimed at improving efficiency, professionalism and service delivery in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which identifies a modern, competent and digitally-enabled public service as a key driver of Vision 2030.

Officially opening the seminar, PSC secretary Mrs Sibusisiwe Zembe, whose speech was read on her behalf by the commission’s general manager for provincial coordination, Mr Lender Richard Dube, said the initiative seeks to equip public servants with critical knowledge on pension reforms, payroll systems, retirement planning and human resources management.

Mrs Zembe said the programme seeks to bridge knowledge gaps on pension administration, while strengthening institutional capacity across Government.

She noted that incomplete pension applications continue to place unnecessary pressure on pensions, payroll and human resources departments, resulting in delays that can be avoided through improved understanding of procedures.

The outreach programme will also enable the PSC to obtain direct feedback from civil servants to improve existing systems, enhance service delivery and restore confidence in pension administration.

Presentations during the seminar cover talent management and training, the Government Integrated Management and Payroll System (GovPay IMPPS), pension administration and occupational safety and health.

On talent management, experts from the PSC’s human capital development and management department are conducting sessions aimed at preparing civil servants for retirement, career progression and effective workforce planning.

The training is also equipping human resources officers with skills to manage recruitment processes and guide employees through retirement.

Mr Christopher Ndiweni, a human resources officer in the Ministry of Health and Child Care, said the training had enhanced participants’ understanding of merit-based recruitment.

“We learnt that merit should always be the deciding factor when recruiting staff and how the grading system supports fairness and transparency during interviews,” he said.

Officials from the Salary Service Bureau are also demonstrating how the GovPay Integrated Management and Payroll System (GovPay IMPPS) streamlines payroll administration and pension processing.

The digital platform automatically calculates retirement benefit entitlements and facilitates timely monthly pension payments, reducing manual processes while improving transparency, accountability and efficiency.

Participants are also receiving training on occupational safety and health, with facilitators emphasising every employee’s right to a safe and healthy working environment.

The seminar, which ends on Friday, is expected to strengthen the capacity of civil servants while contributing to ongoing public sector transformation under the Second Republic.

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Source: Fake court official in court over extortion – herald

Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent

A MAN accused of posing as a judicial official appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court yesterday on allegations of attempting to extort US$900 from a motorist by falsely claiming he could stop the revival of a concluded case and destroy records.

Claddrine Chikafu (32) appeared before magistrate Mr Tapiwa Kuhudzai facing an extortion charge.

He was remanded in custody to tomorrow for a bail ruling. The State, represented by Ms Chipo Muvhamba, alleges that on May 26 last year, the complainant was involved in a road traffic accident in Norton.

Ms Tsitsi Mutangadura-Kanyoka was driving a Honda Vezel.

Following the accident, the complainant was arrested, prosecuted at the Norton Magistrates Court, convicted and sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

He successfully appealed both his conviction and sentence at the High Court, which reduced the sentence to community service.

The court further ruled that, having already served one month in prison, the community service sentence be set aside. It is alleged that in June this year, Chikafu, acting in connivance with accomplices who are still at large, devised a plan to extort money from the complainant.

The alleged accomplices reportedly contacted the complainant, while posing as court officials and detectives, falsely claiming that his 2025 case had been revived at the Norton Magistrates Court.

They allegedly demanded US$900, claiming the money would be used to destroy the complainant’s court records and prevent further legal action.

Initially, the complainant requested time to raise the money.

However, after the suspects allegedly continued demanding payment, he reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) Police Unit on July 6 this year.

A trap was then set using US$900 supplied by investigators.

The State alleges that on the same day, Chikafu sent Gift Machemedze to collect the money from the complainant at the Eastgate Mall first-floor food court in Harare.

Machemedze allegedly received the trap money and was immediately arrested.

The marked cash was recovered during a search.

Upon arrest, Machemedze allegedly implicated Chikafu as the person who had instructed him to collect the money.

Police launched a manhunt for Chikafu and, on July 17, Machemedze allegedly spotted him in Harare’s central business district and alerted detectives, leading to Chikafu’s arrest.

Investigations are continuing.

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