Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: Government moves to revive cotton industry -Newsday Zimbabwe

KADOMA, Jul 14 (NewsDay Live) – Government has embarked on new initiatives to revive the cotton sector, with two interspecific hybrid varieties undergoing trials at eight different sites in cotton-producing regions.

This move follows a 96% drop in cotton production over the past 13 years, leaving the textile industry hanging by a thread.

 

 

The trials, being led by the Cotton Reserach Institute, are being conducted at eight sites nationwide, including Chitekete in Gokwe, to identify suitable varieties for each region. The trials form part of an ongoing research programme that led to the release of two interspecific hybrid varieties: CRI-HYB1 and CRI-HYB2, in 2023.

CRI acting head Marco Mare said the release of the two hybrids did not signal a shift away from the open-pollinated varieties (OPVs) that the majority of Zimbabwe’s rain-fed smallholder cotton farmers had become accustomed to.

“The goal is climate-resilient cotton matched to each growing environment. The CRI-HYB1 and CRI-HYB2 varieties are being pushed for high input and irrigated systems, while open-pollinated varieties continue to be developed for farmers operating under rain-fed conditions,” Mare said.

This distinction matters enormously in a country where cotton is grown predominantly by smallholder farmers who lack irrigation facilities and cannot afford the higher input costs that hybrid seed production demands.

Research by CRI scientists, published in 2025, found that under dry conditions, locally-bred OPVs recorded significantly higher ginning outturn percentages than imported hybrids.  Ginning outturn determines how much fibre is extracted from seed cotton and, therefore, how much a farmer earns per kilogramme delivered.

Prior to the CRI research, farmers in Chitekete, one of the eight trial sites, had recorded some of the highest total seed cotton yields at 3 534 kilogrammes per hectare.

Zimbabwe’s cotton industry produced between 28 000 and 29 000 tonnes in 2025, a massive drop from the 350 703 tonnes recorded in the 2010/11 season. The record 96%  decline in cotton production has weakened the domestic textile industry and increased reliance on imports. Cotton is the country’s second-largest foreign currency earner after tobacco, and directly supports over a million rural households, particularly in the drier provinces of Matabeleland, Midlands, and Mashonaland West.

 

 

The Agricultural Marketing Authority projects output of approximately 38 500 tonnes in 2026, a 33% increase from 2025, though still far below what the industry considers a viable scale.

Mare said the CRI would continue evaluating varieties across multiple locations and seasons to deliver options that are both stable and productive.

“We need varieties that perform consistently, not just in one season or one location,” he said.

He urged farmers adopting improved varieties to adhere strictly to recommended agronomic practices, including plant spacing, weed control, and  pest management, warning that seed genetics alone would not translate into better yields if crop management remained poor.

At last year’s World Cotton Day commemoration in Harare, Lands and Agriculture permanent secretary Obert Jiri noted that average national yields had fallen to around 500 kilogrammes per hectare against a technical potential that researchers say could reach several tonnes per hectare under good management. Experts attributed that to inadequate and delayed input distribution, with some contractors supplying farmers only with seed rather than the full package of seed, fertilisers, and chemicals.

The post Government moves to revive cotton industry appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Chinese firm Shuntai’s US$200m cement plant set to start operations – herald

Business Reporter

CHINESE company Shuntai Investments is set to commence operations in September this year, after making significant progress on its US$200 million cement facility in Chegutu, Mashonaland West Province.

Speaking ahead of the Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Exhibition 2026 scheduled for next week, Shuntai administrator Mr Jack Zhang said the investment was a significant milestone for the cement industry as this would improve the availability and affordability of cement.

The cement plant alone entails an investment of about US$120 million, with the balance invested in complementary infrastructure. This includes a 50-megawatt solar power plant, a packaging facility, and a fleet of electric vehicles.

“We want to be self-sufficient in our operations,” said Mr Zhang. We are also setting up a 50-megawatt thermal power plant with a view to feeding excess power into the national grid,” added.

Once operational, the plant will produce both bulk and bagged cement under the Shuntai brand. With a design capacity of up to 6 000 tonnes of cement per day, the facility will become one of the country’s largest producers, helping to meet the growing demand in the construction sector.

Mr Zhang said the project is expected to generate significant employment opportunities. Around 400 people will be employed alongside Chinese technical personnel during the initial phase, with total employment projected to reach between 1 500 and 2 000 jobs as the business expands.

Analysts say the expansion of the domestic cement industry will significantly lower construction costs, as improved local supply is expected to bring down prices.

Compared to other countries in the region, Zimbabwe has historically grappled with higher cement prices. The improved availability will not only lower costs but also accelerate activity in the construction sector, which is currently one of the country’s best-performing industries.

Zimbabwe’s annual cement demand is estimated at 1.6 to 1.8 million tonnes, driven by public infrastructure projects, housing, and industrial construction.

Because this outstrips domestic production—which has an installed capacity of roughly 2.6 million tonnes but frequently suffers from clinker shortages and equipment downtime—the Government has occasionally opened up import licensing.

The post Chinese firm Shuntai’s US$200m cement plant set to start operations  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: AI-Powered GMB Silos nearing completion at Rutenga – herald

George Maponga-Masvingo Bureau

THE construction of seven new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered Grain Marketing Board (GMB) silos at Rutenga Growth Point in Mwenezi is nearing completion in a development that will boost food security across southern Masvingo Province.

The AI-powered silos will have a combined capacity of 56 000 tonnes of grain. Completion of the silos project dovetails with President Mnangagwa’s mantra of leaving no one and no place behind and will make Rutenga a grain-storage hub for dry southern parts of the country where farmers predominantly produce traditional grains.

Supply Chain manager at GMB Rutenga, Mr Kennedy Kabanga, revealed that work on the silos is billed for completion by the end of August.

“Construction works are almost complete and in about 2 months (end of August) we expect to have completed this project that comprises seven AI-powered silos with a total capacity of 56 000 tonnes,” he said.

Mr Kabanga said the new silos will store mainly traditional grains, popular with farmers in dry regions such as Rutenga and Mwenezi, for up to 5 years.

He revealed that farmers in Mwenezi and surrounding districts will be able to deliver around 8 000 tonnes of traditional grains annually to the silos for storage in an average agricultural season.

According to Mr Kabanga, the silos will predominantly store sorghum, millet and other traditional grains produced by farmers in Mwenezi and surrounding areas.

“Local farmers will also be able to benefit from our grain-swap programme where they can exchange their traditional grains for the staple maize grain,” he said.

The silos will also play an important role as an access point for grain collection in lean years when drought-stricken communities will need food relief.

The location of the silos close to the road and rail network at Rutenga made the new facility strategic in the country’s food distribution matrix.

The post AI-Powered GMB Silos nearing completion at Rutenga appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Solarisation of rural water stations boosts access to clean water – herald

Precious Manomano

Herald Reporter

The Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) has solarised 78 diesel-powered small water supply stations across the country, significantly improving access to clean and reliable water for rural communities while reducing operational costs through the adoption of renewable energy.

The programme has brought relief to thousands of people in rural service centres, particularly in areas where some of the water supply stations had remained idle for nearly two decades because of the high cost and unsustainability of operating diesel-powered engines.

ZINWA head of communications and marketing, Mrs Marjorie Munyonga, said the solarisation programme is part of the authority’s broader strategy to embrace clean, renewable and environmentally friendly energy in line with its Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) goals.

She said the initiative has transformed water supply in many rural communities by restoring operations at previously dormant stations while improving production at those that had been struggling due to expensive diesel-powered systems.

“The solarisation of these stations is part of ZINWA’s commitment to adopting clean and renewable energy technologies while ensuring sustainable and affordable water supply services to rural communities,” she said.

“This initiative also supports our Environmental, Social and Governance goals by reducing carbon emissions and lowering operational costs.”

She said the authority is targeting to solarise a total of 100 diesel-powered small water supply stations by the end of the year.

According to ZINWA, some of the diesel-powered stations had been non-functional for nearly two decades, while production at those that remained operational had declined significantly because of the prohibitive cost of diesel.

The authority said converting the stations to solar energy has restored water supplies and substantially reduced operating costs, as solar power is far cheaper than diesel.

The upgraded stations are also able to operate for longer periods during the day, except under cloudy conditions, resulting in improved water availability for communities.

Mrs Munyonga said the programme has already increased water production, with the solarised stations now producing a combined average of about 3 500 cubic metres (3,5 million litres) of water per day, greatly improving access to safe water in the beneficiary areas.

Stations that have already been converted to solar power include Mutikizizi, Chitsa, Chinyika, Chivamba, Basera, Deure V23, Nerupiri, Rupike, Chinyabako, Chirorwe, Svuure, Chatikobo, Harava, Mukanga, Soti Source, Veza, Zinguwo, Mafuva, Devure Gutu, Sango Border Post, Malipati, Gezani, New Boli, Nyahombe and Tetenu.

Others are Berejena, Chidyamakono, Lundi-Siboza, Madamombe, Mushandike, Masvosva, Mukosi, Pandamatenga, Mataga, Deka Army, Lubimbi, Lusulu, Sipepa, St Luke’s, Dakamela, Nkayi, Dinyane, Dombodema, Mbamba, Lady Baring, Nswazi, Chiendambuya, Nyamazira, Ruwangwe, Manama, Mayobodo and Mugoti.

Mrs Munyonga said ZINWA has also embarked on rehabilitating water reticulation networks in the affected areas to curb leakages and repair ageing infrastructure responsible for water losses.

She added that the authority plans to automate the stations in the near future, reducing human intervention while improving the efficiency, reliability and sustainability of water supply systems.

The solarisation programme forms part of the Government’s broader efforts to strengthen rural water infrastructure, enhance climate resilience and expand access to safe and sustainable water supplies through the adoption of green energy technologies.

The post Solarisation of rural water stations boosts access to clean water appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Parliament pushes for completion of Senga civil servants’ housing project – herald

Freedom Mupanedemo

Midlands Bureau

THE Government has been urged to fast-track the completion of the Senga Messengers’ Camp flats, with Parliament saying the affordable housing project will bring much-needed relief to civil servants struggling with accommodation costs.

The project, located about 5 km from Gweru’s Central Business District, is 40 percent complete and requires an additional US$2,7 million to be finished.

The entire scheme is expected to cost US$4,5 million. The four blocks of four-storey flats are intended to accommodate between 64 and 80 families and are being spearheaded by the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities under Minister Daniel Garwe.

Once completed, the Senga Messengers’ Camp flats are expected to provide affordable rental accommodation for civil servants, with proceeds earmarked for maintenance and future housing projects.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Local Government, Public Works and National Housing on Monday toured the site to assess progress.

The visit revealed a stalled project, with the site overgrown and no construction activity taking place.

Only four unfinished blocks stood on the ground. Construction of the flats started in February 2022, and they were expected to be completed within seven months, by September 2022.

However, the project has faced several delays and contractor impasses. Director of Construction and Maintenance in the Ministry, Mr Gede Gwenhure, said poor soil conditions had forced additional expenditure on foundations.

“The soils here were not strong, so the money went towards the special foundation,” Mr Gwenhure said during the tour. “We are procuring materials for the next stage. We have bricks and three-quarter stones.”

He attributed slow progress to budget constraints and a Government prioritisation policy.

“In terms of the budget, we have not been able to complete. It’s about the spirit of prioritisation — do what is about to be completed,” he said.

Marondera project is first before this one. Marondera is 80 percent complete, so it’s not on the priority list this year. From Marondera we come here because of the stage we are at,” he said.

Despite the delays, Mr Gwenhure said the ministry was banking on a rental model to make the scheme self-sustaining.

“These will be for rentals and Government will make money. At the end of the day our project should generate income,” he said.

“We are targeting seven blocks in due course. These houses will be cheap for civil servants. A four-roomed house will be going for at least US$100. It can be a stop order and the occupant will have peace of mind.”

He said the flats were a critical intervention to grow the country’s housing stock for civil servants and vulnerable households. Yes, we have issues to do with maintenance, but we can plough back the money.”

Leading the oversight visit, Committee chairperson Dr Maxmore Njanji said Parliament would engage the Ministry of Finance to ensure funds are released.

“We are here for an oversight visit, accompanied by members from our committee,” Dr Njanji said.

“We commend the government for working on providing cheap and affordable houses. We want our people to have places to stay.”

He said the exercise was in fulfilment of Parliament’s constitutional mandate to hold state institutions accountable.

“This is a nationwide exercise. We are going across the country. We will engage the Ministry of Finance so that this project is completed in time. This is a commendable project that is being implemented by the Government,” Dr Njanji said.

Committee member Donald Mavhudzi said funding remained the biggest obstacle. “The challenge is finance. There is not enough finance to complete this project,” he said.

The post Parliament pushes for completion of Senga civil servants’ housing project appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.