Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: New cement plant creates 450 jobs -Newsday Zimbabwe

A CEMENT plant under construction in Chegutu has created about 450 jobs and is expected to produce nearly 800 000 tonnes of cement annually when commissioned in August, providing a boost to Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector and rural economy.

Shuntai, a fast-growing Chinese-backed cement manufacturing firm, has emerged as one of the largest entrants to Zimbabwe’s cement industry in recent years.

The project is expected to ease domestic cement shortage, strengthen local manufacturing capacity and create employment while contributing to broader industrial growth. It also underscores continued foreign investment in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure and energy-linked industrial projects.

The plant was initially scheduled for commissioning in May; however, delays in the delivery of equipment pushed completion to August due to disruptions linked to the conflict between Iran and Israel.

Speaking during a tour of the facility, Mashonaland West Provincial Affairs and Devolution minister Marian Chombo said the project was 90% complete and already transforming lives in the area through employment and skills transfer.

“Work is progressing well and the company is employing more local people, with approximately 450 workers currently on site.

“We have encouraged the company to hire Zimbabwean technicians alongside the Chinese workers,” she said.

Chombo said the facility was expected to increase domestic cement supply and reduce shortages in the construction sector.

“Once commissioned, the plant is expected to produce about 800 000 tonnes of cement annually and this will contribute to the country’s GDP while making cement more accessible and affordable,” she said.

She added that the project was expected to contribute to the country’s energy generation capacity.

“Although Zimbabwe continues to face energy challenges, the plant will generate its own thermal power and is expected to produce 50 megawatts. Once fully operational, excess power can be fed into the national grid.

“I am pleased with the progress being made here because the project will have a positive impact on local communities,” Chombo said.

She added that many of the workers employed at the facility were youths from surrounding areas.

“I am happy with the development taking place here as it is going to have a positive impact on local people. Many of the workers here are youths from the area,” she said.

Meanwhile, Shuntai Investments general manager Lee Xiandong said the company had invested in its own power generation facility to guarantee reliable electricity for operations and help to address Zimbabwe’s energy challenges.

“As we know, Zimbabwe is still developing and every industry needs electricity. Demand is very high and there are sometimes power shortages. To mitigate these shortages, we are going to build our own power plant,” he said.

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Source: Corporate backing lifts school excellence awards -Newsday Zimbabwe

THE Primary and Secondary Education ministry has credited growing corporate support for the expansion of its Sector’s Merit Award programme, after Nyamhunga High School and Dudley Hall Primary School were named the 2025 winners for Mashonaland West province at a colourful ceremony held last Thursday at Dudley Hall Primary School in Norton.

The two schools were recognised for excellence in project implementation, Heritage-Based Curriculum delivery, and technical vocational education.

Permanent secretary in the ministry, Moses Mhike, said the awards had grown significantly since their inception, largely due to partnerships with the private sector.

“Around 20 companies came on board so that we can then be able to award the schools that did very well in a whole range of issues that we were looking at,” he said.

The Sector’s Merit Award was introduced to recognise and incentivise schools that excel in implementing government education priorities at district and provincial levels. The programme assesses schools on the delivery of the Heritage-Based Curriculum, rollout of practical and technical vocational subjects and implementation of developmental projects that improve learning environments.

Mhike said the Norton event marked the second provincial stop this year, following Mashonaland East. The ministry plans to roll out the awards across all 10 provinces, with the aim of showcasing best practices and raising national education standards.

“I am extremely excited about the level of the Sector’s Merit Award that we have achieved,” Mhike said. “We hope these prizes are going to enhance our teaching and learning and improve our learning outcomes.”

Edutech chief executive officer, Luke Musambasi, whose organisation has partnered the ministry for years, said the awards created a direct link between private sector expertise and classroom outcomes.

“When we invest in schools that are delivering on practical skills and innovation, we are investing in the future workforce,” Musambasi said. “The Sector’s Merit Award gives us a clear framework to identify and support institutions that are getting it right.”

Secretary for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Mashonaland West Josphat Jaji said the scale of support on display demonstrated the limits of relying solely on government and school development committees.

“Government alone or the school development committees alone would not be able to give all the support that we have seen happening today,” Jaji said.

“This is what happens when government, business and communities work together.”

Speaking on behalf of both schools, Nyamhunga High School headmaster Godfrey Address Mbewe expressed gratitude to the ministry and its partners, saying the award reflects years of collective effort and commitment.

“We gather not merely to acknowledge the conferment of an award, but to celebrate a culture of excellence, commitment and unwavering dedication to the noble cause of education,” Mbewe said.

He said the recognition reflected the work of administrators, teachers, support staff, learners, parents and the wider community and should serve as motivation for other schools.

“It sends a clear message that national recognition is attainable through sustained commitment to quality education, innovation and effective transformational leadership,” he said.

Mhike urged continued media and stakeholder support as the ministry seeks to expand the programme nationwide.

“As a ministry, we want to continue getting more and more support,” he said. “As media, we would really want to urge you to continue supporting us.”

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Source: Goromonzi’s Cloverdale Land Wrangle: High Court drops bombshell  -Newsday Zimbabwe

MARONDERA, Jun. 10 (NewsDay Live) — The High Court has struck off the roll an application by Ruwa Estate (Private) Limited and One Mzuri Estate (Private) Limited that sought a declaratory order declaring the acquisition of a disputed 211-hectare parcel of land at Cloverdale in Goromonzi illegal.

The ruling is the latest twist in a protracted ownership battle over the land, coming months after the same court upheld Glorious Properties’ claim to the property earmarked for a gated residential development.

In his judgment, Justice Samuel Deme ruled that the matter was improperly before the court because an earlier order under case number HCH631/24 remains in force and has not been set aside.

“After a conscientious examination of the order in HCH631/24, I have come to a conclusion that this is not a proper matter for me to exercise my discretion given that such order is still extant and has not been set aside,” Justice Deme said.

“It is therefore a futile exercise to deal with the rest of the issues if the order in HCH631/24 is still in force. In the circumstances, the present application is improperly before the court. It ought to be struck from the roll with costs.”

The judge ordered that the application be struck off the roll with costs.

Cloverdale Farm was transferred to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works in 2012 to facilitate urban expansion. In 2013, the land was sold to Glorious Real Estate (Private) Limited, trading as Glorious Properties, for residential development.

Glorious Properties, whose shareholders include former Labour and Social Welfare Minister Petronella Kagonye, has since been embroiled in a bitter ownership dispute, with multiple parties laying claim to the land. The competing claims have repeatedly stalled completion of the housing project, prolonging uncertainty over one of Goromonzi’s most contested property developments.

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Source: BCC seeks US$13m loan for infrastructure overhaul – The Southern Eye

THE Bulawayo City Council (BCC) is seeking approval to borrow more than US$13 million to finance critical infrastructure rehabilitation projects, warning that years of under-investment, ageing assets and mounting service delivery pressures have left the local authority struggling to maintain essential services.

According to minutes of a council meeting held on May 22, 2026, the local authority intends to apply for borrowing powers for an amount of US$13,16 million to fund upgrades to water and sewage systems, roads, ICT infrastructure, public buildings, equipment, and renewable energy projects.

The proposed loan highlights the scale of Bulawayo’s infrastructure challenges, characterised by deteriorating roads, ageing water and sewer networks, obsolete technology systems and inadequate equipment increasingly affecting service delivery. Council officials argue that without external financing, the city will struggle to address a growing infrastructure backlog and meet rising demand for services.

Presenting the proposal, financial director Tennyson Mpunzi said borrowing was inevitable.

“External capital financing has become necessary to bridge the infrastructure financing gap, restore operational efficiency, improve service delivery standards and support sustainable urban development,” the report stated.

ICT modernisation accounts for the largest share of the proposed loan, with more than US$3 million earmarked for upgrading digital systems.

BCC said the investment would improve revenue administration, billing efficiency, revenue collection, customer service, data management, and cybersecurity. The report noted that much of the city’s ICT infrastructure is obsolete and increasingly unreliable.

Water infrastructure projects will receive US$2,48 million as council battles ageing pipelines and high levels of non-revenue water.

The report states that the city continues to experience significant water losses due to deteriorating infrastructure, resulting in frequent pipe bursts, leakages and reduced revenue collection.

Sanitation infrastructure has been allocated US$2,05 million, with officials warning that several sewage treatment facilities are operating below capacity, creating environmental and public health concerns. Collapsed sewer lines and recurring spillages have also become major challenges.

Road rehabilitation projects are expected to receive just over US$2 million.

Council said many roads had deteriorated significantly and were littered by potholes and surface failures, negatively affecting mobility, public safety and economic activity.

A further US$340 000 is earmarked for the rehabilitation of council-owned buildings, including Revenue Hall and the Tower Block.

“Several council-owned buildings have deteriorated significantly due to prolonged under-investment,” the report read.

Council also plans to invest US$2,65 million in vehicles and equipment to reduce reliance on hired machinery.

According to Mpunzi, shortages of road construction equipment, tipper trucks, water bowsers and earthmoving machinery have increased operational costs and hindered service delivery.

The local authority will allocate  US$600 000 towards solar energy projects, including solar-powered street lighting and traffic management systems.

Council officials said the investment would improve energy efficiency, lower electricity costs and enhance public safety.

The proposed facility is expected to attract an interest rate of around 16% per annum, with total borrowing costs estimated at US$5,13 million over four years. Monthly repayment is projected at approximately US$373 025.

Council acknowledged that the loan carries risks, including debt-servicing pressure, exchange-rate volatility, revenue collection challenges and broader macro-economic uncertainty.

To mitigate these risks, officials said the city would strengthen revenue collection systems, tighten expenditure controls and improve asset management practices. Repayment capacity will be supported through improved billing systems, reduced non-revenue water losses, low equipment hiring costs, and enhanced operational efficiencies.

The report also notes that, in line with Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe regulations, all foreign currency loans must be repaid in the currency in which they are contracted, making stable US-dollar revenue streams critical to successful repayment.

Council resolved to recommend approval of the application to the Local Government and Public Works ministry, arguing that external financing remains essential to restoring infrastructure and improving service delivery standards in the city.

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Source: Wild animals wreak havoc in Tsholotsho – The Southern Eye

TSHOLOTSHO villagers say escalating lion and other wild animal attacks have wiped out livestock herds, destroyed crops and left communities living in fear as human-wildlife conflicts intensify.

The growing conflicts highlight the challenges faced by communities living near wildlife conservation areas, where increasing animal populations, shrinking habitats and prolonged dry spells are forcing wildlife to venture beyond protected zones in search of food and water.

Residents say the incursions are undermining livelihoods, threatening food security and exposing families to constant danger.

One of the affected ward 3 villagers, Matshobana Mpofu, said residents were living under persistent threat from wild animals that frequently stray into villages.

“Lions, elephants, hyenas, zebras and wildebeests are frequently entering community spaces. This has created dangerous situations and is affecting our rural livelihoods,” said Mpofu.

“The most affected villages include Ngamo, Sikwakweni, Nganyana, Siga and surrounding areas. These animals attack our livestock and expose them to diseases. The Big Five are giving us serious challenges. It is now as if we are living inside a game park.”

Another villager, Thonisani Tshuma, said some families suffered devastating losses of cattle to predator attacks.

“The situation is now beyond our control. We have reported the matter to relevant authorities, but our concerns have largely gone unanswered,” he said.

“As we speak, some families have lost all their cattle. In some cases, at least three cattle are killed in a single day. These dangerous animals are now roaming around our communities outside Hwange National Park.”

Tshuma acknowledged the role of the Communal Areas Management Programme for Indigenous Resources and safari operators in managing wildlife through buffer zones, but said more needed to be done.

“We are not against development, but we are unhappy with the way wildlife is being managed. Our lives are now in danger and the safety of our children, especially those walking to school, can no longer be guaranteed,” he said.

Another villager, Sipho Ndlovu, said the crisis was affecting livestock trading.

“Livestock is our wealth, but we are now being denied opportunities to sell our cattle outside the area where we could get better prices. As a result, we are forced to accept very low offers,” he said.

Tsholotsho North legislator Libion Sibanda said authorities were aware of the problem and had engaged stakeholders in search for a lasting solution.

“I am aware of the matter and we are working with all stakeholders to address it. The animals have become a major threat and the situation is no longer normal,” he said.

Sibanda said while elephant incursions had been brought under control, lions had emerged as a growing challenge.

“This time we are dealing with lions, which have become difficult to control. They are now attacking livestock during the day,” he said.

Sibanda said lions had always been a challenge, but the difference was that they were now hunting in broad daylight.

He also expressed concern over the growing population of wildebeests and antelopes outside protected areas.

“The wildebeest and antelope population outside the park has increased significantly and the animals have permanently settled in some communities, making it difficult even for wildlife authorities to properly monitor them,” the lawmaker said.

He added that the animals had become a source of diseases for livestock in the affected areas.

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