Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: 120kW Beitbridge solar mini-grid set for commissioning -Newsday Zimbabwe

TSHITULIPASI, Beitbridge East, Jun. 24 (NewsDay Live) – Energy and Power Development Minister July Moyo is set to commission the 120kW Chitulipasi Community Mini-Grid Solar Project in Ward 1, Beitbridge East, tomorrow.

Implemented by the Rural Electrification Fund (REF), the project will provide electricity to Chitulipasi Primary School, 27 households, a clinic, business centres, the Zimbabwe Republic Police post, churches and other community facilities.

The solar-powered mini-grid is expected to improve access to essential services, stimulate local economic activity and enhance livelihoods in the remote community.

The project aligns with Government’s Vision 2030 agenda of leaving no one and no place behind by extending modern energy services to underserved rural areas.

Through renewable energy and grid-extension initiatives, the Rural Electrification Fund continues to expand electricity access in communities that have long remained off the national grid.

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Source: RioZim output roars back after mine restart -Newsday Zimbabwe

RIOZIM Ltd has restarted operations at its Cam & Motor Mine and reported a sharp increase in output at its Renco Mine, as the resources group begins to recover from a prolonged production slump.

The company said gold output at Renco Mine rose 1 433% in the first quarter of 2026 compared with the same period last year, while Cam & Motor produced its first gold pour on June 2 after resuming operations in May.

RioZim said the restart of Cam & Motor followed a pit dewatering exercise that began in November 2025 and procurement of mining equipment and spares starting in March 2026. Blasting resumed in April.

Renco Mine, which resumed operations in October 2025, produced 92kg of gold in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 6kg in the prior-year period, the company said.

The miner said the operational improvements follow a difficult 2025 financial year in which total gold output fell 80% to 84kg, due to suspended production at Cam & Motor and delayed recovery at Renco.

To support the turnaround, RioZim raised funding and entered contract mining arrangements, pushing borrowings up nearly 390% to ZiG455,3 million.

The company reported a net loss of ZiG739,06 million for the year ended December 31, 2025, widening 18% from ZiG628,47 million a year earlier, while revenue fell 47,1%.

RioZim has faced liquidity constraints since 2024, driven by power shortages, rising costs, foreign exchange instability and equipment breakdowns.

The company has also cited governance and operational challenges, with debt estimated at more than US$191 million, according to court filings by the Zimbabwe Diamond and Allied Minerals Workers Union in 2025.

Auditors have warned there is material uncertainty over the company’s ability to continue as a going concern due to persistent losses and liquidity pressures.

RioZim said an application for corporate rescue filed in April 2026 is being opposed and remains before the High Court.

Shareholders in April approved US$39,4 million in capital raising and asset disposals as part of efforts to strengthen the balance sheet.

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Source: Court sidesteps explosive Seke land dispute -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE High Court directed Harare man Christopher Chibage to resolve his land dispute with former legislator Hubert Nyanhongo through Chief Seke, the area’s headman, village heads and the Manyame Rural District Council.

Chibage, represented by Brian Kashangura, had approached the court seeking an interdict against Nyanhongo.

Chibage was suing Nyanhongo, Manyame RDC, Nelson Mandari, Benny Mutekenyedze, Golden Mupani, Vengai Chanakira, Gilbert Chanakira, Gift Chanakira, Fungai Chanakira and Edwin Chanakira.

He filed for an eviction order against the respondents from communal land in Jaure village and sought the demolition of erected structures.

According to court papers, Chibage is the village head for Jaure village which is the subject of the court application concerning the boundary between Jaure village and Chanakira village in Seke district.

Chibage submitted that the respondents claimed the land was allocated to them to develop their homesteads by the Chanakira village head.

A dispute ensued with Chibage claiming the communal land in question is not part of Chanakira village but fell under Jaure village.

The dispute was referred to the Seke Community Court, which held that the communal land was under the custodianship and administration of Jaure village.

The lower court also ruled that all unlawful structures erected there should be demolished.

The dispute was settled by the Seke Community Court and its determination remains extant and unchallenged.

Chibage submitted that despite Seke Community Court’s determination, the respondents illegally sold the communal land in issue to individuals and they erected structures.

He further argued that Manyame RDC was supposed to demolish the structures and restore the land to its original state.

The enforcement orders took effect on July 27, 2022, and remained in force, extant and unchallenged.

He also submitted that despite the Seke Community Court’s determination and the enforcement orders the respondents remain on the communal land and their illegal structures are still there.

However, High Court judge Justice Joel Mambara struck the matter off the roll and referred it to Manyame RDC for resolution.

Council was ordered to work with the traditional leaders in the area within 30 days from the date of receiving the order.

“The parties are hereby directed to obtain the relevant maps/diagrams for the area in issue from the Local Government and Public Works ministry for use during this exercise,” Justice Mambara said.

“The Manyame Rural District Council shall issue a determination on this matter.”

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Source: People, not minerals, are  Zimbabwe’s greatest asset: Minister Ndlovu –Newsday Zimbabwe

Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu says Zimbabwe’s greatest resource is its people, not its vast mineral wealth, as the country pushes to industrialise and achieve Vision 2030.

Speaking at the High-Impact Business Masterclass hosted by Sharpe Business Academy in Harare on Wednesday, Ndlovu challenged government and business leaders to ensure the country’s natural resources create opportunities for ordinary Zimbabweans, particularly young people.

“When you want to know how much Zimbabwe has in terms of its mineral endowment, the question to ask is which minerals do you not have?” Ndlovu said.

“But given that we have marketed Zimbabwe as such a mineral-endowed country, do young people appreciate what we have? Are these riches translating into real impact?”

He said achieving Vision 2030 would require a collective effort from government, business and citizens.

“This is a vision which government alone cannot achieve, and the private sector alone cannot achieve. It calls upon Zimbabwe as a collective to come together,” he said.

Ndlovu underscored agriculture’s role in industrialisation, noting that the sector supplies most of the raw materials used by local manufacturers.

His remarks come as Zimbabwe prepares to implement National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the final five-year plan leading to Vision 2030.

Although manufacturing became the country’s largest contributor to GDP in 2024, the sector continues to face challenges, including high production costs, ageing equipment and limited access to finance. Capacity utilisation fell from 52.3% in 2024 to 47.7% in the first quarter of 2025.

The ministry is targeting US$1 billion in manufactured exports by 2027 as part of efforts to boost industrial growth and job creation.

Ndlovu said the country’s future competitiveness would depend less on its mineral deposits and more on its ability to develop skilled, productive and innovative citizens.

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Source: CAB 3 row reaches boiling point -Newsday Zimbabwe

TENSIONS have escalated between Zanu PF and CCC self-styled secretary-general Sengezo Tshabangu ahead of a crucial Senate vote on Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3), amid reports that negotiations over his continued support have stalled.

CAB 3 was tabled in the Senate yesterday for the first and second readings. The Bill last week sailed through in the National Assembly with the backing of 34 legislators aligned to Tshabangu, helping Zanu PF to secure the required two-thirds majority.

The Bill seeks to extend the terms of office for senior judges and delay the implementation of provisions requiring elected local authority mayors and running mates for presidential candidates.

However, sources familiar with the talks said Tshabangu’s camp is threatening what it calls a “nuclear option” that could complicate Zanu PF’s efforts to secure Senate approval.

Zanu PF controls 33 Senate seats, while the opposition holds 26 elected seats. The Upper House also has 18 traditional chiefs and two senators representing persons with disabilities. CAB 3 requires 54 votes to pass.

NewsDay understands that Zanu PF secretary-general Jacob Mudenda and other senior ruling party officials have been leading negotiations with Tshabangu’s camp.

Contacted for comment, Mudenda declined to discuss the matter.

“I do not comment on such things,” he said.

Tshabangu’s spokesperson, Nqobizitha Mlilo, confirmed that discussions were ongoing but warned that patience was wearing thin in their camp.

“We have met, are meeting and continue to engage. We do not want to be put in a position where we activate the nuclear option,” Mlilo said.

“Our requests are politically reasonable. We expect our colleagues to act in the national interest and not take us for granted. The nuclear option remains available.

“We are engaged in substantive dialogue, but dialogue cannot be endless and repetitive. Our demands are reasonable, patriotic, legally sound and in the national interest. If Zanu PF chooses to stall, we are fully prepared to deploy our definitive political leverage.”

Sources close to the negotiations said Tshabangu’s demands effectively amounted to influence over key government ministries, including Education, Public Service, Health and Foreign Affairs.

Mlilo, however, insisted the focus was on governance reforms rather than positions.

“We want a government of national consensus anchored by a National Governance Covenant,” he said.

“The covenant should focus on six priorities: free quality education; free quality healthcare; social grants for the elderly, vulnerable women and children; improved working conditions for public servants through a living wage and adequate tools of trade; a pan-African, multi-vector foreign policy; and protection of citizens’ civil and political rights as guaranteed by the Constitution.

“These are our primary demands. If they are not met, we will activate the nuclear option.”

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