Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s Mines and Mining Development Minister, Polite Kambamura, has vowed to intensify the fight against the illicit export of gold, lithium and diamonds, warning that the government will relentlessly pursue individuals and syndicates involved in smuggling the country’s mineral wealth.

Speaking at the recently concluded Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe Annual General Meeting and Conference, Kambamura said mineral leakages were depriving the country of critical foreign currency earnings, tax revenue and employment opportunities.

“We remain uncompromising in combating gold leakages and smuggling. Every gram of gold lost through illicit channels represents lost foreign currency, lost revenue and lost national development opportunities,” he said.

“A tonne of lithium smuggled out of the country, a carat of diamond exported illicitly — that is revenue lost and jobs exported.”

The minister’s remarks come amid growing concern over illicit financial flows in Zimbabwe’s extractive sector, which analysts say continue to drain billions of dollars from the economy each year.

According to Centre for Natural Resource Governance, as much as 36 tonnes of gold may be smuggled out of Zimbabwe annually, a figure that at one stage exceeded half of officially recorded production.

A 2025 report by Global Initiative Against Transnational Organised Crime described Zimbabwe’s mineral leakages as “industrial-scale looting”, involving sophisticated networks of criminal syndicates, private-sector actors and individuals embedded within state institutions.

“Non-renewable resource crimes are among Zimbabwe’s most profitable illicit markets,” the report said.

Authorities and investigators say lithium has emerged as one of the minerals most vulnerable to illegal export due to surging global demand driven by the electric vehicle and renewable energy industries.

Smuggling networks reportedly exploit porous borders through mislabelled consignments, forged customs documentation and corruption involving border officials.

In one reported case, a truck driver transporting what he believed to be chrome ore was intercepted after inspectors discovered the sealed container was carrying raw lithium, the export of which is prohibited under Zimbabwean law.

Experts say weak enforcement capacity and limited geological expertise among some border officials have created loopholes that are routinely exploited by traffickers.

Investigative journalists have also uncovered evidence of organised cross-border smuggling operations.

In April 2025, an undercover investigation by Oxpeckers Investigative Environmental Journalism exposed a transnational lithium smuggling network operating through South Africa and Mozambique.

The investigation revealed how local intermediaries and allegedly compromised border officials facilitated the movement of lithium ore out of Zimbabwe.

It also highlighted an unusual trade pattern in which South Africa, despite having limited domestic lithium production, recorded a dramatic increase of approximately 147,000 tonnes in lithium ore exports to China during 2024, raising suspicions that much of the material originated in Zimbabwe.

Kambamura said combating smuggling remains essential to protecting the country’s mineral resources and ensuring Zimbabweans derive full value from their natural wealth.

Zimbabwe is estimated to lose as much as US$15 billion annually through illicit financial flows, with gold and precious stones identified among the major contributors.

The figure exceeds the government’s US$12 billion target for the entire mining sector, illustrating the scale of the challenge facing authorities.

Farai Maguwu described the losses as devastating.

“It is looting at an industrial scale,” Maguwu said.

Although the government has introduced several measures, including a ban on raw lithium exports and tighter oversight of mineral exports, analysts warn that enforcement challenges, corruption and porous borders continue to undermine efforts to curb smuggling.

Observers argue that meaningful institutional reforms, stronger border controls and greater accountability will be required if Zimbabwe is to fully benefit from its vast mineral resources and prevent continued losses to criminal syndicates and foreign markets.

As global demand for strategic minerals continues to rise, the government faces increasing pressure to demonstrate that its renewed anti-smuggling campaign can deliver tangible results and protect one of the country’s most valuable economic assets.

Source – Mining Zimbabwe

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Source: Cowdray Park residents back title feed program despite legacy payment concerns -Newsday Zimbabwe

Residents of Cowdray Park have given the green light to the Kwangu/Ngakwami Presidential title deed program, paving the way for the formalization of thousands of households in the suburb.

The decision follows the conclusion of a final round of community engagement meetings this week, where residents voted across all 31 segments of the suburb.

While the meetings proceeded largely without incident, initial voting revealed pockets of resistance tied to unresolved historical grievances with the Bulawayo City Council.

A key concern raised by residents was the lack of clarity regarding previous payments made to the Council for infrastructure development.

Many expressed frustration over how those funds were utilized, with some calling for accountability before committing to the new program.

In response, the Bulawayo city council works department assured residents that the funds had been channelled into service delivery.

The council provided an update on infrastructure progress, noting that water reticulation in Cowdray Park is now 97% complete, while sewer coverage stands at 30%.

Roads lag behind at 5% completion.

“Council is currently reconciling those payments to provide residents with a full account,” the council said.

The program, which was initially approved by the City of Bulawayo in April 2025 and officially launched by Finance minister Mthuli Ncube at Cowdray Park Primary School in October 2025, is part of a broader national initiative announced by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in December 2022.

Its goal is to regularise informal settlements and issue title deeds to qualifying households on State land.

Addressing the meeting, Cowdray Park Member of Parliament (MP), Arthur Mujeyi, emphasised that development would proceed in segments that had accepted the program, while continuous engagement would be maintained with dissenting areas.

“Development will begin in the segments that have accepted the program. Continuous engagement will be maintained with those not yet fully aligned to the program,” Mujeyi said.

Senator Collette Ndlovu, who was also in attendance, advised that the rejection of the program by some segments could not halt the overall process if the majority supported it.

She further urged the Council to compile a comprehensive database of residents who had previously paid development fees, and to ensure that these contributions are fairly considered within the framework of the Kwangu/Ngakwami initiative.

Following the engagement and clarifications, a formal vote was conducted across all segments.

Of the 31 segments, 21 voted in favour, while 10 rejected the program.

Program officials confirmed that the majority support clears the way for the rollout of the title deed initiative in Cowdray Park.

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Source: Fuel cheats in Zera crosshairs as crackdown begins -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Zimbabwe Energy Regulatory Authority (Zera) has warned fuel service stations charging above regulated pump prices that they risk prosecution, as the regulator intensifies nationwide compliance inspections following the latest reduction in fuel prices.

The warning comes amid growing public frustration over fuel costs in Zimbabwe, which remain higher than in many neighbouring countries despite recent reductions to around US$1,98 per litre for petrol and US$1,99 for diesel.

Zera chief executive Edington Mazambani told NewsDay the authority noted reports that some fuel retailers were selling above the maximum prices announced by the regulator, prompting an enforcement blitz.

“We have regional compliance officers who enforce issues to do with pricing and quality of fuel products. They always do rounds to check on fuel prices,” Mazambani said.

“But lately, we have had confusion after hearing that some service stations are selling fuel above announced prices. So, we are going to enforce compliance to fuel prices and at the same time prosecute those charging above regulated prices.”

The warning comes after Zera announced a reduction in maximum pump prices for petrol and diesel, following developments on the international oil market.

Mazambani said the regulator was reviewing fuel prices every two weeks instead of the usual monthly cycle due to volatility on global oil markets, triggered by tensions in the Middle East.

“But when fuel stabilises, as a country we always review our fuel prices once every month by the fifth so that we are as closer to the fuel market prices as possible,” he said.

Mazambani added that the latest reduction in fuel prices should be reflected across the economy, particularly in public transport fares and the prices of goods and services that had increased when fuel prices rose.

“One would expect that the prices of commuter omnibus transport and other goods and services which were increased because of the increasing fuel prices will also have to be reduced,” he said.

“But obviously we know that prices are sticky on coming down. We expect that through working together with other government agencies we will be able to enforce reduction of prices of goods and services in line with the reduction of fuel prices.”

The remarks are likely to pressure transport operators, retailers and service providers, who often cite fuel costs as justification for price increases but are slow to reduce charges when fuel prices decline.

Under Zimbabwe’s fuel pricing framework, Zera publishes maximum pump prices for licensed fuel retailers. The authority is also responsible for monitoring compliance with fuel pricing regulations and ensuring fuel quality standards are maintained across the country.

The latest warning signals a tougher enforcement approach by the energy regulator, with fuel retailers who disregard regulated prices facing prosecution as government seeks to ensure consumers benefit from low fuel costs.

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Source: Muswere survives CAB 3 vote backlash -Newsday Zimbabwe

MAKONI West legislator Jenfan Muswere has escaped disciplinary action after the Manicaland province moved to absolve him for failing to cast his vote on the controversial Constitution Amendment No 3 Bill (CAB 3) last Thursday.

Knives were out for Muswere, who is also the Skills Audit and Development minister, after he was among 14 Zanu PF MPs who did not take part in the voting process.

The Bill sailed through the National Assembly with 216 votes, comfortably surpassing the 187 votes required for a two-thirds majority.

Tempers flared at a Zanu PF Manicaland provincial executive meeting on Friday after party members demanded answers over Muswere’s alleged failure to participate in the CAB 3 vote.

Zanu PF Manicaland youth chairperson Stanley Sakupwanya raised the matter during the meeting, which was attended by about 40 provincial members.

“We are aware that one of our MPs in the province did not attend the CAB 3 voting process, and we would like to know how this happened,” he said.

“We are aware that one of our MPs, Angelina Gata, was on assignment, but what about minister Muswere?”

Zanu PF Manicaland spokesperson Phillip Guyo confirmed the development.

Meanwhile, Zanu PF Manicaland provincial chairperson Tawanda Mukodza, addressing a meeting ahead of the provincial inter-district conference, said Muswere and Primary and Secondary Education deputy minister Angelina Gata were on official business and, therefore, did not participate in the CAB 3 vote.

The meeting was attended by Zanu PF treasurer-general Patrick Chinamasa and politburo member Supa Mandiwanzira.

“Muswere and Gata did not manage to vote during CAB 3 because they were on official government business. There are some people who want to abuse social media,” Mukodza said.

“I have to set the record straight that I was aware that MP Muswere and Gata had official business.”

Muswere also attended Saturday’s meeting, where he was seen chanting CAB 3 slogans.

On Thursday, party members reportedly considered moves to have him recalled after questioning his commitment to CAB 3.

Zanu PF has previously warned dissenting members that constitutional provisions exist to recall a lawmaker who fails to vote in line with the party’s position on CAB 3.

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Source: Zinara on course to clear US$11,6m loan by year end – herald

Dr George Manyaya

Freeman Razemba

Senior Reporter

THE rehabilitation of the Plumtree-Mutare Highway between 2012 and 2015 and dualisation of key sections will be fully paid for by the end of the year when the Zimbabwe National Road Administration settles the US$11,6 million debt still owed to the Development Bank of Southern Africa.

Zinara had initially accumulated a US$206 million debt with the bank for the reconstruction and construction work on the 880km of highway. This was the last major roadwork undertaken by a foreign company.

The Plumtree-Mutare construction was carried out by Group Five of South Africa, which has since gone into liquidation. Following the completion of the highway, Zinara and Intertoll (owned by Group Five) formed Infralink under a 70/30 shareholding arrangement to manage 10 tollgates along the highway, contributing to loan repayment and road maintenance.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ninth session of the Line Minister’s Public Entities Corporate Governance Oversight meeting in Bulawayo at the weekend, Zinara board chair Dr George Manyaya confirmed the positive developments.

“The most important thing that we need when you are collecting revenue is funding. The challenge that we have had in Zimbabwe is the creditworthiness of our country. But through the coming of the new dispensation, you noted that the President and the Minister (Felix Mhona) actually advised us that we must be seen to be paying all our credits, be it international or national,” said Dr Manyaya.

“When we took over Zinara we were owing almost US$50 million to DBSA. Last year, when we came to this conference, we were left with US$26 million. But I must say that as of today, as you heard in the presentation, we are left with US$11,6 million, and by the end of December this year, we will be at zero.”

Dr Manyaya emphasised that clearing the debt would enhance Zimbabwe’s creditworthiness and unlock new funding opportunities for other critical road infrastructure projects.

“This enables us to get funding for other roads that we need, and it is good for Zimbabwe, not only in this sector but several sectors, because it shows that Zimbabwe is creditworthy.”

Zinara has surpassed its revenue collection targets, raking in US$190 million, of which US$134 million has already been disbursed to local authorities and road authorities across the country.

“We want to thank the support that we get from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Dr Mnangagwa, and also through our Minister, Honourable Felix Mhona,” Dr Manyaya said.

“Zinara is a product of the parastatal restructuring programme, and you can see through the vision that Zinara is now a transparent organisation. To date, we have already surpassed revenue collections of around US$190 million, and the target for this year we have upped it to US$473 million. Of that US$190 million, we have already disbursed US$134 million.”

Dr Manyaya urged road authorities to submit their acquittals and collect the funds due to them. However, he noted that some road authorities had been suspended due to quality issues, weak corporate governance systems and failure to submit acquittals.

Zinara is also capacitating road authorities across the country, including the Central Mechanical Equipment Department. The relocation of the Dema tollgate is now 75 percent complete and is being transformed into a modern toll plaza.

The Department of Roads is also working on the Juru tollgate, and several other toll plazas are planned.

Dr Manyaya highlighted a major intervention to address the challenge of road authorities relying on hired equipment, which consumes a significant portion of their disbursements.

“Road authorities resort to hiring equipment, and this is where their disbursements go. But I must say that we have spoken to them, and they have given us a list of the equipment that they want. We placed a tender, and we are now going through the procurement processes, finalising the tender process. Before the end of the year, we shall be having equipment for each province, not mobile units, which is very important,” he said.

On electronic tolling, Dr Manyaya confirmed that Zinara has rolled out e-tags at 19 out of 20 tollgates.

The Zinara eTag is a radio-frequency identification electronic toll payment designed to deliver a faster, safer and convenient travel experience.

Launched in December 2024, it enables cashless, automatic toll deductions from a prepaid or linked account. Zinara is also implementing e-tolling, a cashless system that allows road users to make payments using cards or e-tags at toll gates without requiring vehicles to stop.

The system has processed over 932 000 transactions and is operational at 25 of the 29 tollgates nationwide.

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