Source: Zimbabwe commends China’s role in driving record tobacco output – herald Nelson Gahadza, Zimpapers Business Hub China’s financial support and market have been key in driving the rapid growth of Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector, which has broken production records in recent years and is now moving into value addition and beneficiation, Finance, Economic Development and […]
China’s financial support and market have been key in driving the rapid growth of Zimbabwe’s tobacco sector, which has broken production records in recent years and is now moving into value addition and beneficiation, Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said.
He said this while responding to questions during a recent signing ceremony for Letters of Exchange on the China-Aid Upgrading and Maintenance of Irrigation Schemes with the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Zhou Ding.
Prof Ncube said Zimbabwe produced about 350 million kilogrammes of tobacco last year, the highest output ever recorded.
On the export front, Zimbabwe earned US$1,3 billion last year from tobacco shipments, the country’s second-largest export earner after gold.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Zhou Ding
The Treasury chief stated that the outstanding performance was driven by small- to medium-scale farmers supported through Chinese-backed financing arrangements.
“China has been a very important partner to Zimbabwe on the regeneration of the tobacco sector to a point where the sector has exceeded all expectations. Last year, we produced something like 350 million kilograms of tobacco and this is the highest production ever in the history of Zimbabwe,” he said.
Prof Ncube attributed the growth to credit facilities provided to Zimbabwe farmers through China Tobacco, which have enabled farmers to access inputs and increase production.
“The farmers have been able to benefit from the credit facilities provided through China Tobacco, and it has been a remarkable success,” he said.
Beyond financing, he said China had played a critical role by providing a reliable export market for Zimbabwean tobacco, creating an integrated value chain from production to off-take.
Tobacco
“China has been critical in the tobacco sector, but also doesn’t just stop there, providing credit, it also provides the market, the off-take side,” Prof Ncube said.
He added that the arrangement has helped Zimbabwe maintain its position among the world’s top four tobacco producers, alongside China, Brazil and the United States.
Prof Ncube said early indications from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, point to even higher output this year.
“From the figures I am hearing from the Ministry of Agriculture for this year, the 350 million kilograms will be exceeded and we are closer to 400 million, if not more,” he said.
The minister said the relationship with China was now extending into beneficiation, with joint ventures emerging to process tobacco locally and manufacture finished products.
“We are beginning to see a joint venture, again, between Zimbabwe and China in processing the tobacco, producing cigarettes.
“So that beneficiation is most welcome, because we want to also develop the tobacco value chain,” Prof Ncube added.
Turning to irrigation, he said Chinese support would be channelled towards upgrading irrigation schemes across the country to climate-proof agriculture and ensure food security.
“This is a resource that could be used for upgrading various irrigation schemes and this is critical for climate-proofing Zimbabwe’s agriculture,” he said.
He noted that while Zimbabwe had invested heavily in dam construction, the priority was now to convey water to productive land.
Irrigation infrastructure, he said, would also underpin broader rural industrialisation.
The minister welcomed China’s zero-tariff access offer to African exports, describing it as a potential catalyst for Zimbabwe’s export growth, industrialisation and technology transfer.
“They have offered Africa a zero-tariff trade deal and Zimbabwe had already been negotiating access for specific products such as blueberries and other horticultural exports.
“But we hope then this will also accelerate because of this new offer from China of a zero-tariff arrangement, it’s a big market of over one billion people,” he said.
Mr Zhou said Zimbabwe’s tobacco industry sustained livelihoods for more than one million people, with trade linked to China accounting for a significant share of employment in the sector.
He said China Tobacco had played a key role since land reform in supporting Zimbabwe’s economic and social progress and pledged continued support.
Source: Children in hospitals need our love — Mpariwa – herald Trust Khosa Zimpapers Arts , Entertainment Hub VETERAN broadcaster and StarBrite executive director, Barney Mpariwa, firmly believes that a visit to the children’s ward at most referral hospitals would inspire many to appreciate the resilience of innocent souls. He emphasised that many children battling […]
VETERAN broadcaster and StarBrite executive director, Barney Mpariwa, firmly believes that a visit to the children’s ward at most referral hospitals would inspire many to appreciate the resilience of innocent souls.
He emphasised that many children battling various illnesses, particularly those suffering from burns, need love and support.
Recently, Mpariwa brought joy to the children’s ward at Sally Mugabe Central Hospital in partnership with Nyaradzo and other stakeholders.
“We have been making these donations since 2013, and this time we brought teddy bears, snacks and juice just to uplift the spirits,” stressed Mpariwa.
“All the organisations associated with the Miss Zimbabwe pageant were in attendance to cheer up the children.
“These children need our love because most of them are in dire conditions. This gesture has become a tradition for us at Starbrite, and I am using my own influence to help.”
Mpariwa has vowed to use his influence to bring about positive change in the lives of these children and their mothers.
“Most of these children will be accompanied by their mothers, who are incredibly resilient but often have to sleep on benches. Some of the kids have special needs that require extensive care.
“The burns unit is particularly critical, and I am appealing for more partnerships to ensure we can help these kids. Burns take time to heal, which means their mothers will also have to stay in the children’s ward for an extended period.”
He added:
“As I mentioned earlier, the condition of mothers at the hospital is dire, as they also suffer alongside their sick children.
“Mothers accompanying these children need to be on high alert, as they sometimes spend sleepless nights. If we can provide mattresses for them to sleep on, that would be far better than having them rest on benches.”
When asked why he has a soft spot for children, Mpariwa explained, “They are innocent souls who know nothing about life’s hardships.
We can only be good to them, which is why I have been delivering these donations to Sally Mugabe Central Hospital over the years.”
Mpariwa, who has closely worked with Nyaradzo, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, and Zimpapers as stakeholders in this initiative, revealed that he is ready for more partnerships.
“From what I have said, especially concerning the plight of sick children’s wards, we need more partnerships. At Starbrite, we don’t make money; we are simply scouting for talent. We have since partnered with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services, where there is a lot of talent.
For your information, Season 12 winner Tinashe Kamunenga (crowned in 2024) is currently incarcerated, but we have empowered him to pursue his talent,” he stressed.
Mpariwa noted that the outreach has become an annual tradition, adding that giving back doesn’t have to be limited to large institutions, but can start with small acts of kindness in local communities.
Reflecting on their achievements, Mpariwa described 2025 as successful.
“For us, it was a success, especially after forming a partnership with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services. We are glad that we have identified talent in prison, and we are not only identifying talent but also helping the children. We have many programmes lined up as we move into the coming year,” he stated.
Reflecting on Starbrite, which dates back to 1990, Mpariwa noted that they have been a nursery for talent over the years.
“Some of the notable names we identified back in the day include Prudence Katomeni Mbofana, Mathew Kaunda, and Tendai Chidarike, before relaunching the programme in 2012.
“After relaunching the programme, we have produced some household names, including Andy Muridzo and Brayan K, among others.
Many have benefited from our outreach programmes, even though we were affected by the Covid-19 lockdown at one point along the way,” he stated.
Started in the 90s, the StarBrite programme has become one of the most popular reality shows championing talent development.
It aims to discover and nurture various artistic talents, primarily in music, but also in spoken word and dance.
Starbrite has been hailed as more than just a talent show, it also focuses on personal development and life skills, in addition to performance skills needed in the creative community.
Mpariwa’s talent show is famed as one of the most consistent reality shows, featuring talent from diverse backgrounds where raw gems are polished.
His reality show is also known for its fairness regarding the professionals who serve as judges at the national finals.
What has raised its appeal is that Mpariwa’s team has been casting a wider net to ensure they reach out to all areas of Zimbabwe.
He has also been travelling to remote areas in search of talent that may have gone unnoticed.
However, Mpariwa’s commitment to uplifting talent requires funding and partnerships to ensure they reach all corners of Zimbabwe.
Source: Zinara shells out ZiG6,2bn for road rehab – herald Freeman Razemba Senior Reporter THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) shelled out ZiG6,278 billion – approximately US$232,5 million – between January and September this year, funding the maintenance of over 38 000 kilometres of the country’s road network in a major boost to national mobility […]
THE Zimbabwe National Road Administration (ZINARA) shelled out ZiG6,278 billion – approximately US$232,5 million – between January and September this year, funding the maintenance of over 38 000 kilometres of the country’s road network in a major boost to national mobility and road safety.
Funded works covered over a third of Zimbabwe’s estimated 98 000-kilometre road network and marked one of the most significant coordinated road maintenance interventions in recent years.
According to ZINARA’s disbursement report as at September 30, 2025, the authority exceeded its revised annual budget target of ZiG6,081 billion, recording a favourable variance of about ZiG197 million.
The strong performance reflected improved revenue collection, disciplined financial management and accelerated execution of road projects.
In the third quarter alone, ZINARA disbursed ZiG2,592 billion, surpassing the revised quarterly budget of ZiG2,176 billion, signalling improved fund utilisation and faster implementation of planned works.
A significant share of the funds – ZiG3,983 billion – was channelled towards high-impact road maintenance and rehabilitation projects, achieving an 83 percent utilisation rate.
Urban councils received ZiG1,292 billion, while rural district councils were allocated ZiG1,811 billion, recording utilisation rates of 51 percent and 64 percent respectively.
The Department of Roads absorbed ZiG253,97 million, representing 53 percent of its allocation.
In a statement, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development said the scale of road maintenance achieved under the programme underscored ZINARA’s central role in sustaining Zimbabwe’s road infrastructure.
“ZINARA this year funded the maintenance of 38 112 kilometres of the road network through the disbursement of ZiG6,278 billion. This is out of the total 98 000km road network in Zimbabwe and calls for more innovative funding mechanisms to fully address national road infrastructure needs,” the ministry said.
Experts say the development is significant as reliable road infrastructure underpins economic growth, facilitates access to markets, schools and health facilities, lowers transport costs and enhances road safety.
By funding routine and periodic maintenance, ZINARA helps extend the lifespan of existing roads, preventing costly reconstruction while improving service delivery across key economic corridors.
To further capacitate road authorities, ZINARA also doubled fuel disbursements, enabling councils and the Department of Roads to carry out in-house works without delays.
The fuel disbursement programme achieved a 100 percent utilisation rate, with ZiG87,98 million deployed nationwide to support operational mobility.
“In another remarkable achievement, ZINARA disbursed 2 762 915 litres of fuel, enabling road authorities to carry out in-house works efficiently,” the ministry said.
In Bulawayo, the disbursement of 40 000 litres of fuel facilitated the resurfacing of Woodville Park Road, Herbert Chitepo Road, George Silundika Avenue and Fourth Avenue.
Additional works were completed on Old Esigodini Road and Cecil Avenue, a critical bypass for traffic heading towards Gwanda and the southern corridor.
Other major routes, including Bulawayo-Nkayi and Bulawayo-Victoria Falls, also underwent rehabilitation, improving regional connectivity, boosting tourism and trade, and creating employment opportunities.
Beyond fuel support, ZINARA funded the procurement of essential equipment such as graders, tipper trucks, rollers, excavators, water bowsers and tractor-drawn implements.
Road authorities including Mutare City Council and Gwanda Municipality have already benefited, while the Department of Roads is being supported to revive maintenance units nationwide.
The acquisition of in-house equipment has reduced reliance on external contractors, lowered costs and enabled faster project completion.
ZINARA has also strengthened road safety institutions, channelling additional funding to the Vehicle Inspectorate Department (VID) to expand inspection fleets, procure vehicles and modernise testing facilities.
These measures are expected to enhance inspection efficiency and ensure that only roadworthy vehicles use public roads.
The Traffic Safety Council of Zimbabwe has likewise been capacitated to intensify nationwide road safety awareness campaigns.
Meanwhile, several road authorities recorded budget utilisation, with some achieving 100 percent absorption.
These include Gwanda Municipality, Gokwe Town Council, Kwekwe Municipality, Mutoko RDC, Tsholotsho RDC, Buhera RDC, Murehwa RDC and Sanyati RDC, setting benchmarks for effective planning and execution.
While acknowledging challenges such as slow procurement processes, shortages of qualified engineers and equipment breakdowns, ZINARA said it would intensify technical support, capacity building and contract management assistance as it moves into 2026.
ZINARA is also accelerating the rollout of electronic tolling through e-tags, a digital transformation aimed at improving efficiency, reducing congestion at toll plazas and enhancing transparency in revenue collection.
“In 2025, ZINARA advanced toll operations with the commissioning of the Norton Toll Plaza, while Dema and Juru toll plazas are at various stages of modernisation. These developments are reducing congestion, improving turnaround times and enhancing travel experiences,” the ministry said.
Source: Government pushes for health sector overhaul -Newsday Zimbabwe ZIMBABWE’S health sector entered a new phase of transformation in 2025 as the government accelerated major reforms under the National Development Strategy, a blueprint aimed at propelling the country towards upper-middle-income status by 2030. Central to the reforms are the Presidential Hospital Renovation Scheme and the […]
ZIMBABWE’S health sector entered a new phase of transformation in 2025 as the government accelerated major reforms under the National Development Strategy, a blueprint aimed at propelling the country towards upper-middle-income status by 2030.
Central to the reforms are the Presidential Hospital Renovation Scheme and the expansion of rural health facilities, initiatives designed to strengthen access to quality healthcare nationwide.
The government has begun refurbishing key public health institutions, marking a significant step in a broader programme to modernise health infrastructure and improve conditions in public hospitals.
In an interview recently, Health and Child Care ministry secretary Aspect Maunganidze said the renovations were intended to equip central and provincial hospitals with infrastructure suited to current and future healthcare needs.
“2025 saw a rollout of the Presidential Hospital Renovation Scheme, starting with Parirenyatwa School of Nursing and now we have moved to Mpilo. The intention is to make sure all central hospitals and provincial hospitals… have infrastructure that is fit for purpose as we move from NDS1 [National Development Strategy 1] to NDS2. This is our last lap to achieve Vision 2030,” he said.
Maunganidze added that preparatory work was underway for the construction of new health centres in Manhize, Paradza, Rudhanda and Bulilima, with building expected to begin in 2026.
In recent years, the government has scaled up investment in primary healthcare facilities in rural and previously underserved communities. Several pilot health centres have been completed and commissioned, including Mataga in Mberengwa, Runyararo, Cowdray Park and Stoneridge.
“We commissioned Mataga in Mberengwa in 2025. It was the fourth of the four pilot centres opened in the last two to three years. We are at the groundbreaking for the next four… Manhize, Paradza, Rudhanda and Bulilima, set for rollout in 2026. This will help to reduce walking distance for rural communities from 10 kilometres to 5 kilometres,” he said.
Beyond infrastructural development, the government is strengthening the health workforce through a decentralised recruitment system for nursing trainees. Provinces now play a greater role in selecting candidates, an approach aimed at improving long-term staff retention by encouraging health workers to serve in their home districts.
“We have devolved recruitment for nurses coming into training. Each province can now determine who is being trained. People are more likely to serve the communities they grew up in and this will help the spirit of development,” Maunganidze said.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has consistently underscored the importance of a functional health sector in driving sustainable development, stressing that access to affordable, quality healthcare is essential, especially for vulnerable populations.
Source: End of the road for The Warriors, as Bafana Bafana secure last 16 berth -Newsday Zimbabwe ZIMBABWE . . . . . . . (1) 2 SOUTH AFRICA . . .(1) 3 SOUTH Africa defeated regional rivals Zimbabwe 3-2 in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group B match at the Marrakesh Stadium last […]
SOUTH Africa defeated regional rivals Zimbabwe 3-2 in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Group B match at the Marrakesh Stadium last night, securing a place in the last 16 of the continental tournament.
Bafana Bafana claimed the win thanks to goals from Tshepang Moremi, Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis, clinching second place in Group B behind Egypt. South Africa will advance to play the runner-up from Group F (one of Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique) on January 4 in Rabat.
The Warriors finished bottom of the group and kept up their unfortunate record of elimination in the group stage in all of their Afcon tournament appearances.
South Africa threatened from early on and duly claimed the lead in the seventh minute, with Tshepang Moremi’s shot-cross from the right of the penalty area deflecting off Divine Lunga and evading goalkeeper Washington Arubi to find the back of the net.
Zimbabwe levelled the game in the 19th minute via Tawanda Maswanhise, who dribbled skilfully into a shooting position – leaving a couple of defenders in his wake – before firing a low drive beyond the right hand of goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.
The Warriors should have gone ahead 10 minutes later when Jonah Fabisch whipped in a great cross from a free kick, picking out the unmarked Munashe Garananga, but the big defender put his header over the crossbar.
Locked at 1-1 at the interval, Bafana Bafana made a change at the start of the second half by introducing Bathusi Aubaas to add some extra steel and stability in midfield.
South Africa reclaimed the ascendancy in the 50th minute, as Foster latched onto a poor back header from Lunga and bravely beat Washington Arubi to the bouncing ball to head into an empty net for 2-1.
The Warriors responded with a triple change on the hour mark – sending on Tawanda Chirewa, Macauley Bonne and Junior Zindoga – and they nearly claimed a second equaliser from Maswanhise a few minutes later, but his low drive rebounded off the base of the post.
Zimbabwe then scored out of nowhere in the 74th minute to level the game at 2-2. Chirewa played a brilliant pass to put Maswanhise in on goal – his shot was saved by the legs of Williams, but the rebound hit Aubrey Modiba and travelled into the net for an own goal.
More drama followed when the Warriors’ captain Marvelous Nakamba was guilty of a bizarre handball in his own 18-yard area, handing South Africa a penalty (which was awarded after a VAR check). Appollis took the spot kick in the 82nd minute and confidently struck the ball into the bottom corner to restore the lead at 3-2.
Bafana Bafana still had to weather some late scares, with Zimbabwe continuing to look dangerous whenever they attacked, but ultimately Hugo Broos’s side emerged victorious.
Zimbabwe: W. Arubi, B. Galloway, G. Takwara, M. Garananga (E. Jalai 75’), J. Fabisch (T. Chakuchichi 89’), B. Antonio (J. Zindoga 60’), M. Nakamba, D. Msendami (T. Chirewa 59’), D. Lunga, P. Dube (M. Bonne 60’), T. Maswanhise
South Africa: R. Williams, K. Mudau, S. Ngezana, M. Mbokazi, A. Modiba, T. Mokoena, S. Sithole (B. Aubaas 46’), O. Appollis, S. Mbule (T. Mbatha 87’), T. Moremi (M. Nkota 76’), L. Foster (E. Makgopa 73’)
