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Source: Government steps up support for returnees from South Africa – herald

Thupeyo Muleya, thupeyo.muleya@zimpapers.co.zw

GOVERNMENT has reaffirmed its commitment to repatriating and reintegrating Zimbabweans returning from South Africa, with more than 100 000 citizens now back home as the Second Republic intensifies humanitarian support and resource mobilisation to sustain the operation.

Local Government and Public Works Minister Daniel Garwe made the remarks on Thursday during a familiarisation tour of the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre, where he also signed a Joint Resource Mobilisation Plan with the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Dr Rosemary Kalapurakal, to mobilise financial, technical and material support for the ongoing repatriation and reintegration exercise.

The Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre is processing an average of 1 000 returnees daily following renewed anti-migrant violence in parts of South Africa.

Minister Garwe said President Mnangagwa directed Government to establish a comprehensive framework for the repatriation, reception and reintegration of Zimbabwean nationals, resulting in a coordinated whole-of-Government response involving ministries, development partners and humanitarian organisations.

“Following this directive, the Government and its partners have successfully repatriated over 30 000 returnees. Over 70 000 Zimbabweans returned through self-repatriation. This brings the total number of returnees to over 100 000,” he said.

Minister Garwe said the increasing number of returnees highlights the need for continued collaboration and resource mobilisation.

“Government expresses its sincere appreciation to the United Nations family, whose support through various agencies has been instrumental in the areas of protection, health, WASH, logistics, coordination, information management and humanitarian assistance,” he said.

“Appreciation is also extended to development partners, humanitarian organisations, the private sector, faith-based organisations and individual well-wishers for their invaluable contributions towards supporting returning Zimbabwean nationals.”

Minister Garwe said while significant progress had been made, the growing influx of returnees continued to place pressure on transport, temporary accommodation, food assistance, healthcare, sanitation facilities, protection services and reintegration programmes.

“It is against this background that a joint resource mobilisation initiative is being undertaken. While the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office engages international cooperating partners and the donor community, the Government will continue mobilising support from the private sector, philanthropic organisations, faith-based institutions and other local stakeholders,” he said.

Minister Garwe said Government has upgraded facilities at the Beitbridge Reception and Support Centre, including improvements in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), temporary shelters and other supporting infrastructure to enhance the welfare of returnees.

He said returnees receive three meals a day, while border management systems have been strengthened to facilitate smooth processing.

The centre now operates a 24-hour clinic, which has assisted more than 1 200 returnees over the past two weeks through medical screening, primary healthcare services and referrals where necessary.

Minister Garwe said beyond emergency assistance, Government was placing greater emphasis on sustainable reintegration in line with the Second Republic’s inclusive development agenda, which dovetails with Vision 2030.

“The Government has adopted a three-pronged reintegration framework covering social, economic and cultural integration. On social integration, the focus is on access to education, health care, civil registration and social protection. This ensures returnees are fully integrated into national systems,” he said.

Minister Garwe said economic reintegration focuses on employment creation, entrepreneurship, skills development and livelihood support to enable returnees to contribute meaningfully to national development.

“Cultural integration is being promoted through traditional leaders, faith-based organisations, families and communities. This strengthens social support networks and promotes a sense of belonging,” he said.

Minister Garwe said the reintegration programme also seeks to harness the knowledge, professional skills and work experience acquired by Zimbabweans while living abroad.

“These competences will be documented, validated and aligned with local development priorities to enhance both individual livelihoods and national development,” he said.

Minister Garwe said Government views the returning of citizens not only as a humanitarian challenge but also as an opportunity to build resilient communities and promote inclusive economic growth.

“By supporting returnees to reintegrate, the Government is not only addressing immediate humanitarian needs but is also transforming return migration into an opportunity for community resilience and inclusive growth,” he said.
Minister Garwe urged all stakeholders to continue supporting the programme.

“Together, we must ensure that every Zimbabwean returning home is received with dignity, protected from harm and supported to reintegrate,” he said.

Dr Kalapurakal reaffirmed the UN’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s response, saying close cooperation between Government and development partners remains critical to addressing both immediate humanitarian needs and long-term reintegration.

Officials at the reception centre told the visiting delegation that about 1 000 returnees are processed daily, receiving registration, health screening, temporary accommodation, food assistance and transport to their respective home districts before leaving the facility.

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Source: Pump and Steel Suppliers to revive defunct ZECO rail manufacturing in Bulawayo – herald

Business Reporter

LEADING local engineering firm Pump and Steel Suppliers is preparing to enter the heavy rail manufacturing sector as it plans to revive production capabilities formerly held by the defunct Zimbabwe Engineering Company (ZECO).

The strategic focus, confirmed by Human Resources Manager Eugene Jackson in an interview ahead of the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026, is to build on inherited rail production infrastructure to eventually resume domestic manufacture of heavy railway equipment and components.

The move is anticipated to ease import reliance, boost local technical skills and provide a critical lift to the country’s transport and logistics sector.

The planned expansion represents a major shift for Pump and Steel Suppliers, which operates out of a sprawling industrial workshop in Bulawayo that previously functioned as a railway facility.

Established in 1989, the company has grown into a major anchor of the country’s steel value chain and currently employs between 300 and 500 workers, depending on seasonal demand.

However, expanding into rolling stock and rail components will require a massive step up in technical complexity and precision engineering.

To bridge this technical gap, the company has expanded its training programme in heavy steel fabrication.

“Looking ahead, we plan to revive rail manufacturing inherited from ZECO,” said Mr Jackson.

He said building local expertise was a priority for the firm as it scales up operations to prepare for the heavy transport market.

The rail manufacturing initiative comes at a time when Pump and Steel is operating at high capacity across its existing product lines.

Its specialised lines yield about six tonnes of nails daily, divided equally across three-inch, four-inch and six-inch product runs.

The three- and four-inch lines currently dominate sales, driven by strong nationwide construction activity.

The structural division fabricates about 250 tonnes of heavy steel products monthly, including fuel tanks, mining tanks and roof trusses.

A single light-manufacturing production line produces 2 400 door frames and 1 200 window frames in a single eight-hour shift.

Under the national Buy Zimbabwe initiative, the company has also successfully localised its hinge manufacturing, completely replacing imports for this high-demand building component.

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Source: ED Law School impresses – herald

Debra Matabvu

Senior Reporter

The University of Zambia Class of 1975 yesterday met with President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare, with the delegation applauding the Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa School of Law for its contribution to legal education. 

The delegation is in Zimbabwe on a benchmarking visit of the institution with a view to replicating its model at the University of Zambia.

Addressing the media after meeting President Mnangagwa, head of delegation and the President’s former classmate at the University of Zambia, Professor Mpazi Sinjela, said they were impressed by the ED Mnangagwa School of Law.

He said the visit would provide valuable insights into the establishment and operation of the law school, which the delegation hopes to use as a model for strengthening legal education at the University of Zambia.

“We were impressed with the ED Law School in Kwekwe,” he said.

“Since he was one of us at the University of Zambia School of Law, we are in the process of building a law school,” he said.

“So, before we can commence, we wanted to see what the ED Law School looks like.

“We have been extremely impressed, and we would like very much that we copy some ideas, if not a replication of that law school and bring it to Zambia as well.”

Prof Sinjela added that the delegation was now working on launching the fundraising exercise for the construction of the sister law school in Zambia.

“As you know, (President Mnangagwa) he was our classmate,” he said.

“Since that time, we have continuously been in touch. We have continuously come and visited as friends, of course.

“That is really our main preoccupation, to launch the fundraising exercise for the construction of a sister law school in Zambia.”

The delegation toured the state-of-the-art facility in Kwekwe on Wednesday, describing it as a milestone in strengthening legal education and promoting regional academic integration.

While in Kwekwe, the delegation also presented a publication titled, “Conversations With The Law School Class of 1975”, which chronicles the experiences of classmates who studied alongside President Mnangagwa.

Construction of the ED Mnangagwa Law School began in 2023.

The self-contained, double-storey campus will feature lecture rooms, moot courts, a library, hostels, a kitchen, a hospital and staff quarters, among other essential facilities.

In a significant boost for legal education in the country, the Midlands State University Faculty of Law will relocate to the new Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa Law School in Kwekwe this August.

All law lectures, tutorials and administrative operations will move to the new facility when the 2026 academic semester resumes.

The campus, named after President Mnangagwa, was constructed to expand capacity and provide modern teaching infrastructure for law students.

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Source: AI expert returns home to bridge digital skills gap – herald

Rutendo Nyeve, rutendo.nyeve@sundaynews.co.zw

AFTER spending more than 20 years building a career in the United Kingdom’s technology sector, artificial intelligence (AI) expert Liliosa Padenga has returned home with a clear mission of helping Zimbabwe prepare for the fast-changing digital age.

At a time when AI is transforming industries across the world, Padenga wants Zimbabweans to understand and use the technology rather than be left behind by it. Her return is also part of a growing trend of skilled Zimbabweans in the diaspora bringing their knowledge and experience back home to contribute to national development.

Having worked as a lecturer in the UK, including at the National College of Digital Skills where she trained apprentices from major international companies such as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) and PricewaterhouseCoopers, also known as PwC, Padenga initially planned a quieter life after returning to Zimbabwe.

However, once she saw the gap in AI knowledge and skills, particularly within the education sector, she decided there was more work to be done.

“I came back in 2025. I wanted to come back and just relax, but when I saw this gap, I thought, oh, I can contribute,” she told The Saturday Chronicle.

That decision led to the establishment of ADNOB AI Tech Solutions, a company dedicated to helping Zimbabweans understand and use artificial intelligence through practical training programmes.

For Padenga, the move is a natural extension of the work she has been doing throughout her career. “I’m a retired teacher and lecturer. I have worked in the past in Zimbabwe, at the University of Zimbabwe. I understand the context of Zimbabwe,” she said.

Her work comes at a significant moment for the country. Earlier this year, President Mnangagwa launched the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (2026-2030), which aims to position Zimbabwe as a technology-driven upper-middle-income economy. One of the key pillars of the strategy is talent and capacity building, an area that closely aligns with Padenga’s efforts.

“When the President launched the national AI strategy, I had already been teaching AI in the UK. So when we came and realised that the first pillar in the strategy is talent and capacity building, and that touches education,” she said.

“If we talk about the figures, I think when the strategy was actually drafted, we were at a single digit, our literacy of AI.”

Through ADNOB AI Tech Solutions, Padenga is working to close that knowledge gap by making AI accessible to educators, students and professionals. Rather than encouraging schools to invest in costly equipment, the company focuses on helping institutions make the most of the resources they already have. “We work with what they already have; we say, let’s start from where you are,” Padenga said.

The company offers half-day and full-day training sessions covering AI tools such as ChatGPT and Gemini. Beyond teaching people how to use the technology, the training also looks at how AI can be incorporated into Zimbabwe’s heritage-based curriculum.

“In the context of our heritage-based curriculum, how can we use AI?” she asks.
A key part of the training involves addressing fears that artificial intelligence will replace human workers. Padenga believes such concerns often stem from a lack of understanding about how the technology works.

“We try to demystify some of those things. We say, no, you are the human in the loop; AI cannot work on its own; it needs the human person,” she said.

To ensure participants continue learning after the workshops, ADNOB AI Tech Solutions also provides WhatsApp support groups where trainees can share experiences, ask questions and receive ongoing guidance.

Padenga believes that building AI literacy is essential if Zimbabwe is to fully benefit from the opportunities presented by emerging technologies. By equipping teachers with the necessary skills, she hopes to prepare learners to participate in future innovation programmes, including initiatives such as the AI Grand Challenge.

“We see ourselves as players where we can help the nation fulfil or implement that strategy,” she said.

Her story reflects a broader national drive to tap into the expertise of Zimbabweans living abroad. Recently, Vice President Constantino Chiwenga emphasised the importance of leveraging the knowledge and experience gained by

Zimbabweans in the diaspora, describing it as a valuable resource for the country’s development.
For Padenga, the journey has come full circle. From her early years in Zimbabwe, including attending Goromonzi

High School and working at institutions such as Kushinga-Pikelela, to earning a Master’s degree in Computer Science in Australia and building a successful career in the UK, she has accumulated extensive global experience.

“I grew up in Zimbabwe; Goromonzi was my high school,” she recalls.

Today, she is bringing that experience home, determined to ensure that Zimbabweans are not merely consumers of technology but active participants in shaping the digital future. Through training, mentorship and skills development, Padenga hopes to help build a generation that can confidently harness artificial intelligence for national development and economic growth.

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Source: ZEC begins transfer of key electoral functions following Constitutional Amendment – herald

Sikhumbuzo Moyo, smoyo@chronicle.co.zw

THE Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) has announced the commencement of a process to transfer some of its key functions to other institutions following the enactment of the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026.

In a public notice issued yesterday, ZEC Chairperson Justice Priscilla Chigumba said voter registration, the compilation, custody and maintenance of voters’ rolls and registers have been transferred to the Registrar-General, while the delimitation of constituencies, wards and other electoral boundaries has been assigned to the Delimitation Commission.

The electoral body said it was already engaging relevant Government authorities to facilitate a smooth transition of the affected functions.

“Following the enactment of the Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, which transfers the function of voter registration, the compilation of voters’ rolls and registers, the custody and maintenance of voters’ rolls and registers, to the Registrar-General and transfers the delimitation of constituencies, wards and other electoral boundaries to the Delimitation Commission, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission wishes to advise the public that the handover of those aspects of its mandate that have been transferred to other institutions is a process that it is engaged with,” said Justice Chigumba.

She said ZEC was in the process of consulting the Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs and anticipated receiving transitional subsidiary regulations that would establish a comprehensive framework for the handover and takeover of the affected functions.

Justice Chigumba said the regulations would provide clear guidelines and operational procedures to govern the transition process and ensure that there is no disruption to electoral administration during the transfer period.

She reassured stakeholders that despite the transfer of some responsibilities, the commission remained fully operational and capable of executing its constitutional mandate.

“The Commission wishes to assure the public that it remains fully equipped and operationally prepared to continue to discharge its core mandate as specified in Section 239 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe,” she said.

Under Section 239 of the Constitution, ZEC retains responsibility for preparing, conducting, and supervising elections and referendums, and for ensuring that they are conducted efficiently, freely, fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law.

The commission will also continue to design, print, and distribute ballot papers; approve the form of ballot boxes and procure them; and establish and operate polling centres.

Other functions that remain under ZEC include conducting and supervising voter education, accrediting observers of elections and referendums, issuing instructions to persons employed by the State or local authorities for the proper conduct of elections and receiving and considering complaints from members of the public.

Justice Chigumba said further announcements would be made as the transition process unfolds and more details become available.

“ZEC remains committed to ensuring a seamless and lawful transition of functions to the designated institutions,” she said.
The Constitutional Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026, introduced significant changes to the administration of electoral processes in Zimbabwe by separating voter registration and delimitation responsibilities from the electoral management body.

The amendment has generated considerable public interest as it alters functions that have historically been undertaken by ZEC since its establishment as an independent constitutional commission.

Political parties, civil society organisations and election stakeholders are expected to closely follow the transition process as Government moves to operationalise the new constitutional framework.

The latest notice provides the clearest indication yet that implementation of the constitutional changes is now underway, with affected institutions working towards establishing the legal, administrative and operational mechanisms required to assume their new responsibilities.

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