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Source: I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, SAYS CAPTAIN RAMBO, AS HE BREAKS DOWN AFTER RETRIEVING THREE BODIES FROM BUDIRIRO POOL OF DEATH – herald

Latwell Nyangu

FOR eighteen years, Victor Kazembe, popularly known as ‘Coach Rambo’, has been retrieving bodies.

But, he has never seen anything like what confronted him when he dived into a sewage-filled pool in Budiriro 3.

He retrieved three bodies at once in an operation that started on Sunday night and spilled into the early hours of yesterday.

In the end, he broke down as he narrated how he executed this difficult recovery mission.

The Harare-based diver has become one of the country’s most trusted underwater recovery specialists.

A qualified scuba diver, swimming instructor and lifesaver, he has spent years responding to such emergencies, searching rivers, dams and ponds when victims vanish beneath the surface.

His courage, professionalism and dedication have earned him admiration across Zimbabwe, with many describing him as a hero.

But his latest mission was too much to bear even for a veteran like him.

“This incident is sad, it’s painful. Death yacho inorwadza, this is not water but this is mud,” he said.

“To die in mud is painful.

“This is an incident, it is a mystery, chaita chishamiso, since I started life-saving in 2008, this one is mysterious.

“Chishamiso chihombe chaitika, tauya takatarisira kuti tikuda kubuditsa munhu one, murume, asi chazoitika ndofunga mangozvionera.

“When I got into the mud, I had hope to bring a man wearing a pair of jeans and a red T-shirt, as it was explained, but it didn’t come out as expected.”

Coach Rambo said that, as professional divers, they are not recommended to enter muddy pools but he took a sacrifice.

“As divers, we are not recommended to dive in mud, we enter the waters, this is not water but sewage.

“Saka kupinda kwandanga ndichiita umu, tank ndanga ndinaro just in case of emergency, so that it would help me to breathe in case I suffocate.

“But in the mud, it’s difficult to breathe.

“This was a sacrifice so that the spirits of these people rest in peace.

“Zvaita kuti tizosvike pamunhu watanga tichida kuona, because sometimes kana vamwe vanhu vane bond vanoita bond spiritually kuti kana vachienda vanoenda vese.

“So umwe atanga kuenda, kubva asheedza umwe, the reason why tatanga kuona musikana uyu it was because, if we had seen the man first, I was not going to stop, ndaingotora mukomana then I leave.

“Murume wamurukuona, mukazonzwa kana hama dzake ndinovimba murume uyu haana kana one day kana ma hours awira umu, maybe two days, hama dzake dzichapupura asi ma symptoms arikuratidza kuti munhu uyu agarisa mumvura.

“Maomera aaita akasiyana nevaviri ava, vaviri ava varatidza kuti vawira nhasi asi ndongoti kune hama dzevanhu vataburitsa, tine hurombo rufu rwunorwadza, may their soul rest in eternal pace.”

He added:

“Since 2008, as a life rescuer, I have realised that if a missing person is not seen, their spirit continues to haunt others, inoramba ichingonetsa ichisheedza vamwe.

“Like in this case, in Budiriro, the first person to drown akatosheedza vamwe.

“This incident, kana ichitaurwa kudai inoita kunge easy, we don’t know how it happened, but when we came, we wanted to rescue the man who drowned first.

“He was in the company of his friends, and he drowned while passing through.”

He added:

“When I got to the scene, I saw it was a difficult scene since it was sewage. It was heavy for me but I was just praying so that I would do the job.

“I believe in God and in everything I do, I seek the Kingdom of God. So, after I prayed, I then promised to do the job.

“I assured people who were around but I had to do research on the premises.

“I sacrificed for my first attempt.”

Coach Rambo has done everything – from training youngsters to swim, saving people from near-drowning situations, to retrieving bodies from the floors of pools.

He rides his bicycle straight into the notorious Pool of Death in Epworth, hits the water in a riding position before disembarking and swimming to the surface.

His inspiration, he said, was from American Hollywood Star, Sylvester Stallone.

Rambo started his romance with water in an equally dangerous spot – the Kambuzuma Pool of Death.

The post I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS, SAYS CAPTAIN RAMBO, AS HE BREAKS DOWN AFTER RETRIEVING THREE BODIES FROM BUDIRIRO POOL OF DEATH appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

HARARE – Zimbabwe is preparing a major shift in trade and industrial policy, with Government proposing new legislation aimed at restricting up to US$4,5 billion worth of imports that authorities say can be produced domestically, in a bid to strengthen industrialisation, conserve foreign currency, and deepen local value chains.

According to State Media, the planned Local Content Act is expected to become operational next year and will form the legal backbone of efforts to reduce reliance on imported consumer and industrial goods.

The proposed framework targets a wide basket of products currently imported despite local production potential, including tissue paper, toothpicks, chewing gum, pharmaceuticals, and other fast-moving consumer goods.

Quoting the Herald, the policy thrust is designed to “boost industrialisation, creating jobs and reducing pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves” through import substitution and localisation of production.

A high-level Local Content National Steering Committee—comprising academics, business leaders, industry representatives and government technocrats—has been established to guide implementation. The committee is chaired by economist and academic Professor Gift Mugano.

Speaking to State Media, Prof Mugano said the scale of import substitution opportunity highlights structural weaknesses in the domestic production base.

“The starting point is that we have an import bill of US$4,5 billion worth of commodities that can be produced locally,” he said. “We are importing them because we don’t have a policy framework to stop that importation, which is unnecessary. It is becoming a burden on our fiscus and reserves because we are draining foreign currency unnecessarily.”

Under the proposed Act, firms that meet defined local content thresholds will benefit from tax and non-tax incentives, while non-compliant entities could face penalties. Authorities are also developing an artificial intelligence-driven certification and rating system to measure firms’ localisation performance.

Government has identified 16 strategic sectors for intervention, with detailed capacity assessments already completed in nine. The findings are expected to inform the legal principles underpinning the new legislation.

Prof Mugano said Zimbabwe spends significant sums annually on goods that could be manufactured domestically, including more than US$200 million on tissue paper and over US$300 million on pharmaceuticals.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has previously indicated that the broader industrialisation programme targets more than US$4 billion in import substitution through domestic production under the forthcoming policy framework.

“The Local Content Strategy on its own is not enough. We need a Local Content Act to operationalise the framework and provide a clear implementation mechanism,” Prof Mugano said. “We are quite advanced in driving the agenda of localising production and eliminating unnecessary imports.”

The policy comes against the backdrop of a persistent structural trade imbalance, with official data showing sustained demand for imported consumer goods. Between 2021 and 2025, Zimbabwe imported over US$140 million worth of beauty, cosmetic and personal care products alone.

Within that category, skincare and makeup products accounted for US$43,6 million, while toothpaste and dental care imports stood at US$20 million. Perfumes, deodorants and related products contributed US$16,4 million, and petroleum jelly imports reached US$13,6 million.

Economists say the initiative could mark a turning point for domestic industry if effectively implemented.

Economist Dr Davison Gomo said the policy addresses long-standing capacity constraints in manufacturing and enterprise development.

“The reason these goods come into the country is that our internal manufacturing capacity is still well below where it should be,” he said. “Our entrepreneurial capacity to produce a variety of goods is also subdued to a large extent.”

He added that strengthening domestic production would help reduce illicit trade and improve fiscal resilience.

“If local industry cannot adequately supply the market, you create opportunities for illegal trade and corruption,” Dr Gomo said.

Official figures indicate manufacturing capacity utilisation rose to 57 percent in the first quarter of this year, up from 47,7 percent in the same period last year, signalling gradual recovery in industrial activity.

Economic analyst Ms Wendy Mpofu said the proposed legislation could become a defining pillar of Zimbabwe’s industrial policy architecture.

“The Local Content Act has the potential to become one of the most important industrial policy interventions since independence,” she said. “If implemented effectively, it can reduce import dependence, preserve foreign currency, stimulate domestic investment and accelerate the revival of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector.”

The post Zimbabwe moves to curb US$4,5bn import bill under sweeping Local Content overhaul appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE – Zimbabwe is preparing a major shift in trade and industrial policy, with Government proposing new legislation aimed at restricting up to US$4,5 billion worth of imports that authorities say can be produced domestically, in a bid to strengthen industrialisation, conserve foreign currency, and deepen local value chains.

According to State Media, the planned Local Content Act is expected to become operational next year and will form the legal backbone of efforts to reduce reliance on imported consumer and industrial goods.

The proposed framework targets a wide basket of products currently imported despite local production potential, including tissue paper, toothpicks, chewing gum, pharmaceuticals, and other fast-moving consumer goods.

Quoting the Herald, the policy thrust is designed to “boost industrialisation, creating jobs and reducing pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves” through import substitution and localisation of production.

A high-level Local Content National Steering Committee—comprising academics, business leaders, industry representatives and government technocrats—has been established to guide implementation. The committee is chaired by economist and academic Professor Gift Mugano.

Speaking to State Media, Prof Mugano said the scale of import substitution opportunity highlights structural weaknesses in the domestic production base.

“The starting point is that we have an import bill of US$4,5 billion worth of commodities that can be produced locally,” he said. “We are importing them because we don’t have a policy framework to stop that importation, which is unnecessary. It is becoming a burden on our fiscus and reserves because we are draining foreign currency unnecessarily.”

Under the proposed Act, firms that meet defined local content thresholds will benefit from tax and non-tax incentives, while non-compliant entities could face penalties. Authorities are also developing an artificial intelligence-driven certification and rating system to measure firms’ localisation performance.

Government has identified 16 strategic sectors for intervention, with detailed capacity assessments already completed in nine. The findings are expected to inform the legal principles underpinning the new legislation.

Prof Mugano said Zimbabwe spends significant sums annually on goods that could be manufactured domestically, including more than US$200 million on tissue paper and over US$300 million on pharmaceuticals.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has previously indicated that the broader industrialisation programme targets more than US$4 billion in import substitution through domestic production under the forthcoming policy framework.

“The Local Content Strategy on its own is not enough. We need a Local Content Act to operationalise the framework and provide a clear implementation mechanism,” Prof Mugano said. “We are quite advanced in driving the agenda of localising production and eliminating unnecessary imports.”

The policy comes against the backdrop of a persistent structural trade imbalance, with official data showing sustained demand for imported consumer goods. Between 2021 and 2025, Zimbabwe imported over US$140 million worth of beauty, cosmetic and personal care products alone.

Within that category, skincare and makeup products accounted for US$43,6 million, while toothpaste and dental care imports stood at US$20 million. Perfumes, deodorants and related products contributed US$16,4 million, and petroleum jelly imports reached US$13,6 million.

Economists say the initiative could mark a turning point for domestic industry if effectively implemented.

Economist Dr Davison Gomo said the policy addresses long-standing capacity constraints in manufacturing and enterprise development.

“The reason these goods come into the country is that our internal manufacturing capacity is still well below where it should be,” he said. “Our entrepreneurial capacity to produce a variety of goods is also subdued to a large extent.”

He added that strengthening domestic production would help reduce illicit trade and improve fiscal resilience.

“If local industry cannot adequately supply the market, you create opportunities for illegal trade and corruption,” Dr Gomo said.

Official figures indicate manufacturing capacity utilisation rose to 57 percent in the first quarter of this year, up from 47,7 percent in the same period last year, signalling gradual recovery in industrial activity.

Economic analyst Ms Wendy Mpofu said the proposed legislation could become a defining pillar of Zimbabwe’s industrial policy architecture.

“The Local Content Act has the potential to become one of the most important industrial policy interventions since independence,” she said. “If implemented effectively, it can reduce import dependence, preserve foreign currency, stimulate domestic investment and accelerate the revival of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector.”

The post Zimbabwe moves to curb US$4,5bn import bill under sweeping Local Content overhaul appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE – Zimbabwe is preparing a major shift in trade and industrial policy, with Government proposing new legislation aimed at restricting up to US$4,5 billion worth of imports that authorities say can be produced domestically, in a bid to strengthen industrialisation, conserve foreign currency, and deepen local value chains.

According to State Media, the planned Local Content Act is expected to become operational next year and will form the legal backbone of efforts to reduce reliance on imported consumer and industrial goods.

The proposed framework targets a wide basket of products currently imported despite local production potential, including tissue paper, toothpicks, chewing gum, pharmaceuticals, and other fast-moving consumer goods.

Quoting the Herald, the policy thrust is designed to “boost industrialisation, creating jobs and reducing pressure on the country’s foreign currency reserves” through import substitution and localisation of production.

A high-level Local Content National Steering Committee—comprising academics, business leaders, industry representatives and government technocrats—has been established to guide implementation. The committee is chaired by economist and academic Professor Gift Mugano.

Speaking to State Media, Prof Mugano said the scale of import substitution opportunity highlights structural weaknesses in the domestic production base.

“The starting point is that we have an import bill of US$4,5 billion worth of commodities that can be produced locally,” he said. “We are importing them because we don’t have a policy framework to stop that importation, which is unnecessary. It is becoming a burden on our fiscus and reserves because we are draining foreign currency unnecessarily.”

Under the proposed Act, firms that meet defined local content thresholds will benefit from tax and non-tax incentives, while non-compliant entities could face penalties. Authorities are also developing an artificial intelligence-driven certification and rating system to measure firms’ localisation performance.

Government has identified 16 strategic sectors for intervention, with detailed capacity assessments already completed in nine. The findings are expected to inform the legal principles underpinning the new legislation.

Prof Mugano said Zimbabwe spends significant sums annually on goods that could be manufactured domestically, including more than US$200 million on tissue paper and over US$300 million on pharmaceuticals.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has previously indicated that the broader industrialisation programme targets more than US$4 billion in import substitution through domestic production under the forthcoming policy framework.

“The Local Content Strategy on its own is not enough. We need a Local Content Act to operationalise the framework and provide a clear implementation mechanism,” Prof Mugano said. “We are quite advanced in driving the agenda of localising production and eliminating unnecessary imports.”

The policy comes against the backdrop of a persistent structural trade imbalance, with official data showing sustained demand for imported consumer goods. Between 2021 and 2025, Zimbabwe imported over US$140 million worth of beauty, cosmetic and personal care products alone.

Within that category, skincare and makeup products accounted for US$43,6 million, while toothpaste and dental care imports stood at US$20 million. Perfumes, deodorants and related products contributed US$16,4 million, and petroleum jelly imports reached US$13,6 million.

Economists say the initiative could mark a turning point for domestic industry if effectively implemented.

Economist Dr Davison Gomo said the policy addresses long-standing capacity constraints in manufacturing and enterprise development.

“The reason these goods come into the country is that our internal manufacturing capacity is still well below where it should be,” he said. “Our entrepreneurial capacity to produce a variety of goods is also subdued to a large extent.”

He added that strengthening domestic production would help reduce illicit trade and improve fiscal resilience.

“If local industry cannot adequately supply the market, you create opportunities for illegal trade and corruption,” Dr Gomo said.

Official figures indicate manufacturing capacity utilisation rose to 57 percent in the first quarter of this year, up from 47,7 percent in the same period last year, signalling gradual recovery in industrial activity.

Economic analyst Ms Wendy Mpofu said the proposed legislation could become a defining pillar of Zimbabwe’s industrial policy architecture.

“The Local Content Act has the potential to become one of the most important industrial policy interventions since independence,” she said. “If implemented effectively, it can reduce import dependence, preserve foreign currency, stimulate domestic investment and accelerate the revival of Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector.”

The post Zimbabwe moves to curb US$4,5bn import bill under sweeping Local Content overhaul appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s efforts to build a credible domestic monetary framework received a significant boost this week after the inaugural auction of the Zimbabwean Central Bank’s ZiG-denominated Term Deposit Facility Bills attracted strong market participation, underscoring growing confidence in the authorities’ liquidity management and currency stabilisation strategy.

Auction results released on Friday showed that investors submitted bids worth ZiG391.6 million for the debut 90-day instrument against an offer size of ZiG500 million. The Zimbabwean Central Bank allotted ZiG331.6 million at a weighted average yield of 10.9849 percent per annum, while maintaining a selective allocation strategy designed to reinforce monetary discipline.

The auction marks an important milestone in the development of Zimbabwe’s domestic money and capital markets following the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.

Financial sector analysts said the successful uptake demonstrates that banks and institutional investors are increasingly willing to hold ZiG-denominated assets, a development that could contribute to the deepening of local financial markets and strengthen the transmission of monetary policy.

The term deposit facility is designed as a liquidity sterilisation instrument, enabling the central bank to absorb excess liquidity from the banking system by offering interest-bearing securities with defined maturities.

By encouraging financial institutions and investors to lock away surplus ZiG balances for 90 days, the facility reduces the amount of money circulating within the economy. Economists regard liquidity management as a critical component of maintaining price stability, particularly in economies seeking to anchor inflation expectations and strengthen confidence in a domestic currency.

The auction therefore represents more than a routine monetary operation. It forms part of a broader strategy aimed at maintaining reserve money discipline, supporting exchange-rate stability and creating a market-based mechanism for managing liquidity conditions.

Excess liquidity has historically been associated with inflationary pressures and exchange-rate volatility, as large volumes of local currency seek access to foreign currency markets. By withdrawing surplus liquidity from circulation, policymakers hope to ease pressure on the foreign exchange market and reinforce the value of the ZiG.

Investment strategist Rudo Ndlovu described the auction outcome as a significant step in the maturation of Zimbabwe’s domestic financial architecture.

“What we are witnessing is the gradual formation of a ZiG yield curve,” she said.

“The weighted average yield of approximately 11 percent on a risk-free 90-day instrument provides a critical benchmark for the market. Banks, corporates, fund managers and investors now have an important reference point for pricing ZiG-denominated assets and liabilities. This is fundamental to the long-term development of a functional domestic capital market.”

She noted that the central bank’s decision to allot only ZiG331.6 million despite receiving higher bids reflected a commitment to monetary prudence.

“The authorities are clearly prioritising liquidity management objectives rather than simply maximising subscription volumes. That discipline is essential for building policy credibility and sustaining confidence in the currency,” she said.

Economist Dr Shaun Chikovore said the instrument aligns closely with the objectives outlined in Zimbabwe’s 2026 Monetary Policy Statement and represents an important building block in the institutional framework supporting the ZiG.

“This facility simultaneously addresses several policy objectives,” he said.

“It helps sterilise excess liquidity, supports inflation control, contributes to exchange-rate stability and establishes a foundation for the development of a domestic yield curve. These are key ingredients for building a credible local currency ecosystem.”

Dr Chikovore added that the auction’s significance extends beyond short-term liquidity management.

“A functioning market for government and central bank securities is a prerequisite for broader capital market development. The existence of reliable benchmark rates improves pricing efficiency across the financial system and supports the growth of savings, investment and lending activity,” he said.

Market participants also expect demand for future auctions to strengthen as investors become more familiar with the instrument and its regulatory treatment.

The designation of the securities as prescribed and liquid assets is expected to enhance their attractiveness to banks, pension funds, insurance companies and other institutional investors seeking compliant investment opportunities while preserving capital.

The successful launch comes at a time when authorities are seeking to strengthen macroeconomic stability and create conditions conducive to long-term investment and economic growth.

Economists argue that sustained monetary discipline will be critical if Zimbabwe is to avoid the inflationary episodes that have historically undermined confidence in domestic currencies. A predictable and transparent liquidity management framework is also viewed as essential for lowering risk premiums, improving financial intermediation and encouraging greater use of local-currency-denominated financial instruments.

Beyond its immediate monetary implications, the auction is also being viewed as a positive signal for the broader economy. A stable currency and well-functioning financial markets are regarded as key foundations for industrial expansion, investment mobilisation and sustainable economic development.

As Zimbabwe continues to strengthen its monetary framework, the next Term Deposit Facility Bill auction will be closely watched by investors and policymakers alike as an indicator of market confidence in the country’s evolving ZiG-based financial system and the central bank’s commitment to maintaining monetary stability.

The post Maiden ZiG Securities Auction Lays Foundation for Domestic Yield Curve Development appeared first on The Zimbabwe Mail.