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Source: Battle over gold producer takes new twist -Newsday Zimbabwe

SIX individuals and a company claiming ownership of Wan Wenjin Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd sold their shareholding to Chinese co-founder Wan Wenjin, court documents and correspondence reveal, adding a new twist to the ongoing dispute over control of the Manicaland-based gold producer.

According to affidavits filed at the High Court, Jianping Hu, another claimant, was never a shareholder of the company.

The dispute over the control of the bullion producer pits Wan Wenjin and Kennedy Sithole against Jonathan Brian Chirawo, David T Muchinguri, Humphrey Tafara Mnangagwa, Chriswell Daitone, Tendai Dzanza, Kakorodzi Enterprises and Jianping Hu, all of whom are contesting control of the firm.

In his supporting affidavit, Wan said he bought out Kakorodzi Enterprises and became the company’s sole shareholder and director.

He further averred that Jianping was never a shareholder or director of Wan Wenjin Jewellers.

Wan said he never sold back any of his shares in the company to Chirawo, Muchinguri, Mnangagwa, Daitone and Dzanza after buying out the quintet.

He said  Jianping and his son, Song Zhoulin, never had authority “to represent my interests in the company”.

Wan also told the court that he lawfully appointed Sithole as a director in terms of the company’s Articles of Association, insisting that Sithole’s actions were valid and not fraudulent.

Court documents show Wan and Sithole scoring victories with High Court judge Justice Pisirayi Kwenda ruling that the application made by Chirawo, Wan Wenjin Jewellers, Jianping, Muchinguri, Mnangagwa, Daitone and Dzanza as “not being urgent, be and is hereby struck off the roll for urgent matters with costs.”

In case No HCH6121/25, the septet had dragged Wan, Sithole, Wan Wenjin Jellewers, the Registrar of Companies and the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court to court.

In another case, HCH5577/25, between Wan Wenjin Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd and Sithole against Kakorodzi Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd, Muchinguri, Mnangagwa, Chirawo, Dzanza, Mhinduro Rushambwa, Daitone and Registrar of Companies, High Court judge Justice Davison Foroma ruled in favour of the applicants.

Justice Foroma ordered that all the changes effected to the shareholding and directorship of the 1st applicant, Wan Wenjin Jewellers (Pvt) Ltd, at the company registry by any of the respondents, including the re-registration and appointment of new directors, be and are hereby suspended pending the prosecution of HCH5538/25.

Justice Foroma prohibited the respondents or any of their associates, from interfering with Wan Wenjin Jewellers’ day-to-day business activities, including but not limited to decision-making, financial transactions, client and stakeholder communication and management of company assets, until the final determination of the summons filed by the applicants under case number HCH5538/25.

Despite the rulings, the dispute remains unresolved.

Lawyers representing the former shareholders, according to Sithole, recently petitioned Mutapa, Investment Fund chief executive John Mangudya to nullify a gold mining deal, which Allied Timbers boss Remigion Nenzou entered into with Sithole, whose legal eligibility to represent the firm they are contesting.

In a letter dated December 15, 2025, the lawyers wrote: “We demand that Mutapa Investment Fund and Allied Timbers immediately interdict the mining agreement dated November 10, 2025; suspend all related operations due to sub-judice and initiate an internal investigation into the conduct of Mr Nenzou.”

Failure to terminate Nenzou’s deal with Sithole, Madondo Legal Practitioners wrote, will compel their clients to institute legal action against the duo.

In a letter to Nenzou dated December 17, 2025, Sithole hit back, labelling the claimant former shareholders wanting to be “allowed back into the company which they rejected”.

“Up to this point, they are yet to cancel the share certificates and the agreement that they had with Mr Wan as indicated in his affidavit above. They remain excluded from the company,” the letter read.

Sithole said they were facing a “barrage of attacks from the former shareholders who were claiming to have miraculously gotten back into the company”.

“These attacks are conveniently coming at the end of the stretch of attacks against the operations on site,” he said.

“When these failed, these former shareholders sought to come back. They effected some changes which have included some people who had already been explicitly identified as not being part of the company.”

In the letter to Nenzou, Sithole also attached documents showing that Muchinguri, Mnangagwa,  Chirawo, Dzanza, Rushambwa and Daitone sold their shares to Wan in January last year.

The post Battle over gold producer takes new twist  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Source: Mana Pools restores hope for endangered elephants –Newsday Zimbabwe

AFRICA’S forest elephants remain critically endangered, but new data reveal a glimmer of hope where protection, science and community partnerships converge.

Zimbabwe has stepped up conservation efforts, deploying six newly-graduated Akashinga Rangers to Mana Pools National Park in the Zambezi Valley, a Unesco World Heritage site famed for its wildlife and cultural significance.

The rangers, part of an all-female anti-poaching unit, graduated recently in Chinhoyi through a joint programme with the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (ZimParks).

“Following their pass-out parade, a cohort of 6 Akashinga Rangers has officially been posted to Mana Pools,” Akashinga announced recently. “The posting fulfils our partnership with ZimParks to support the protection of one of Zimbabwe’s most iconic wilderness areas and the communities that surround it.”

The deployment underscores a broader push to safeguard elephants whose migratory routes have been fractured by human development.

Experts said protecting wildlife required more than isolated reserves; it demanded low-impact landscapes and functional corridors that connected resource-rich areas.

The initiative also highlights the growing role of local communities and female-led ranger units in wildlife conservation, combining law enforcement with sustainable development.

Mana Pools stands as a lifeline for elephants and other large mammals whose migratory routes have been fractured by human development.

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•  Mana Pools restores hope for endangered elephants

According to Byron du Preez, Akashinga’s director of science, conservation must move beyond isolated protected zones.

“Landscapes do not need to be pristine to support wildlife; they need low human impact and space for animals to move between resource-rich areas,” he said. “Reconnecting protected areas through functional wildlife corridors is one of the most effective solutions.”

Akashinga Rangers are part of an all-female anti-poaching unit founded by former Australian special forces soldier Damien Mander.

They are not only guardians of the land but also agents of change in their communities, promoting coexistence and sustainable livelihoods.

According to the African Wildlife Foundation (AWF), an estimated 135 690 elephants were surveyed across the continent and illegal killing began to decline since 2018, but the trend is uneven. It also said Central Africa, home to 96% of the remaining forest elephant population, showed that coordinated investment could stabilise numbers, while West Africa had experienced a critical decline.

“Forest elephants are more than a species at risk; they are indicators of Africa’s ecological health,” AWF said in its latest report.

The organisation is doubling down on anti-poaching systems, ecological monitoring and habitat protection across key Congo Basin landscapes, while championing African leadership in biodiversity stewardship.

“AWF is actively driving this momentum by investing in anti-poaching systems, ecological monitoring, community-led conservation and habitat protection,” the report said.

“Our work directly responds to the threats highlighted in the report — poaching, habitat loss and human-elephant conflict while elevating African leadership in biodiversity stewardship.”

The post Mana Pools restores hope for endangered elephants  appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Government has unveiled an ambitious housing drive aimed at breaking long-standing barriers to home ownership by recapitalising the Housing Guarantee Fund and the National Housing Fund, a move expected to unlock mortgage finance and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.

At the heart of the strategy is the recapitalisation of the Housing Guarantee Fund and the National Housing Fund — twin interventions expected to unlock long-term mortgage finance, de-risk lenders and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes for low and middle-income earners.

For decades, rapid urbanisation, population growth and limited access to housing finance have combined to overwhelm formal housing delivery systems. Thousands of families have been pushed into informal settlements and overcrowded accommodation, while local authorities — burdened by weak balance sheets, ageing infrastructure and limited borrowing capacity — have struggled to service land. Financial institutions, meanwhile, have remained cautious, citing currency volatility, low household incomes and high lending risks.

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the new approach marks a clear departure from incremental housing delivery towards a large-scale, finance-driven model that prioritises affordability, access and modern standards.

“Under NDS2, housing development will be a key national priority aimed at overcoming the national housing backlog of two million units, thereby ensuring access to affordable, decent and modern housing and social amenities such as water, sanitation, electricity, education and health facilities,” said Prof Ncube.

Through the recapitalised Housing Guarantee Fund, the Government will act as a guarantor for individuals seeking mortgages from banks and building societies — a move designed to reduce lending risk and expand access to housing finance for groups traditionally excluded due to stringent collateral requirements.

Complementing this is the revitalisation of the National Housing Fund, which will directly finance the construction of new housing units, particularly targeting low- and middle-income households. Authorities believe the fund will stimulate large-scale developments, reduce construction costs through economies of scale and ultimately improve affordability.

Beyond financing, the housing drive places strong emphasis on the regularisation of informal settlements and the provision of essential social services, aligning housing delivery with constitutional obligations on access to basic amenities.

The programme is also underpinned by sweeping legislative reforms aimed at modernising Zimbabwe’s housing framework. Prof Ncube said the Government will review and enforce updated building codes, land-use policies and housing regulations to improve safety, resilience and inclusivity.

Key laws earmarked for overhaul include the Housing and Buildings Act and the Housing Standards Control Act. Outdated instruments such as the Model Building By-Laws of 1977 and Building Codes of 1932 will be revised to accommodate modern construction technologies, environmental sustainability and climate-resilient designs.

In addition, Statutory Instrument 32 of 2007 on rent regulations will be reviewed to strengthen tenant protections and promote affordability, while the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy will be enhanced to better manage rapid urbanisation.

To speed up housing delivery, approval processes will be streamlined under broader ease-of-doing-business reforms. Addressing chronic shortages of serviced land, NDS2 prioritises infrastructure provision through structured public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Under this framework, private developers will service land they own, while PPPs will be deployed on State or local authority land, with private investors funding infrastructure and recovering costs through stand sales under the oversight of local authorities.

“For State-owned or local authority land, a public-private partnership model will be employed, where a private investor funds the infrastructure and recoups the investment through the sale of stands, with local authorities providing crucial oversight and ensuring compliance with development standards,” said Prof Ncube.

Government has also stressed that no construction will proceed without approval of minimum development standards to safeguard quality and public safety.

Over the NDS2 period, Zimbabwe is targeting the delivery of one million houses and serviced stands in both urban and rural areas at an estimated cost of US$15 billion. Funding will be mobilised from a mix of fiscal resources, private-sector investment and long-term capital from insurance companies, pension funds and other financial institutions.

In a targeted intervention, the Public Service Pension Fund will be leveraged to expand housing facilities for civil servants, with plans to deliver 1 200 units during the strategy period.

While welcoming the initiative, rural and urban planning expert Dr Nicholas Muleya cautioned that strong regulation and monitoring would be critical, particularly where private developers are involved in joint ventures on State land.

“Developers must be strictly regulated to ensure they deliver fully serviced stands and houses. They must not be allowed to sell unserviced or partially serviced stands, as some abandon projects after people have paid their hard-earned cash,” he said.

Dr Muleya also urged the Government to support struggling local authorities, especially in areas where developers have defaulted, leaving residents in completed houses without sewer or water connections.

“If Government assists local authorities in such cases, developers must be held accountable for their failures. At the same time, a conducive environment should be created for responsible private players to contribute meaningfully to housing delivery,” he said.

The programme represents one of the most comprehensive attempts in recent years to align finance, regulation and private capital in tackling Zimbabwe’s prolonged housing shortage — with the Government betting that access to mortgages will finally turn policy promises into roofs over people’s heads.

The post Bold housing finance push to tackle two-million-unit deficit appeared first on herald.

The post Bold housing finance push to tackle two-million-unit deficit appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter

THE Government has unveiled an ambitious housing drive aimed at breaking long-standing barriers to home ownership by recapitalising the Housing Guarantee Fund and the National Housing Fund, a move expected to unlock mortgage finance and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes.

At the heart of the strategy is the recapitalisation of the Housing Guarantee Fund and the National Housing Fund — twin interventions expected to unlock long-term mortgage finance, de-risk lenders and accelerate the delivery of affordable homes for low and middle-income earners.

For decades, rapid urbanisation, population growth and limited access to housing finance have combined to overwhelm formal housing delivery systems. Thousands of families have been pushed into informal settlements and overcrowded accommodation, while local authorities — burdened by weak balance sheets, ageing infrastructure and limited borrowing capacity — have struggled to service land. Financial institutions, meanwhile, have remained cautious, citing currency volatility, low household incomes and high lending risks.

Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube said the new approach marks a clear departure from incremental housing delivery towards a large-scale, finance-driven model that prioritises affordability, access and modern standards.

“Under NDS2, housing development will be a key national priority aimed at overcoming the national housing backlog of two million units, thereby ensuring access to affordable, decent and modern housing and social amenities such as water, sanitation, electricity, education and health facilities,” said Prof Ncube.

Through the recapitalised Housing Guarantee Fund, the Government will act as a guarantor for individuals seeking mortgages from banks and building societies — a move designed to reduce lending risk and expand access to housing finance for groups traditionally excluded due to stringent collateral requirements.

Complementing this is the revitalisation of the National Housing Fund, which will directly finance the construction of new housing units, particularly targeting low- and middle-income households. Authorities believe the fund will stimulate large-scale developments, reduce construction costs through economies of scale and ultimately improve affordability.

Beyond financing, the housing drive places strong emphasis on the regularisation of informal settlements and the provision of essential social services, aligning housing delivery with constitutional obligations on access to basic amenities.

The programme is also underpinned by sweeping legislative reforms aimed at modernising Zimbabwe’s housing framework. Prof Ncube said the Government will review and enforce updated building codes, land-use policies and housing regulations to improve safety, resilience and inclusivity.

Key laws earmarked for overhaul include the Housing and Buildings Act and the Housing Standards Control Act. Outdated instruments such as the Model Building By-Laws of 1977 and Building Codes of 1932 will be revised to accommodate modern construction technologies, environmental sustainability and climate-resilient designs.

In addition, Statutory Instrument 32 of 2007 on rent regulations will be reviewed to strengthen tenant protections and promote affordability, while the Zimbabwe National Human Settlements Policy will be enhanced to better manage rapid urbanisation.

To speed up housing delivery, approval processes will be streamlined under broader ease-of-doing-business reforms. Addressing chronic shortages of serviced land, NDS2 prioritises infrastructure provision through structured public-private partnerships (PPPs).

Under this framework, private developers will service land they own, while PPPs will be deployed on State or local authority land, with private investors funding infrastructure and recovering costs through stand sales under the oversight of local authorities.

“For State-owned or local authority land, a public-private partnership model will be employed, where a private investor funds the infrastructure and recoups the investment through the sale of stands, with local authorities providing crucial oversight and ensuring compliance with development standards,” said Prof Ncube.

Government has also stressed that no construction will proceed without approval of minimum development standards to safeguard quality and public safety.

Over the NDS2 period, Zimbabwe is targeting the delivery of one million houses and serviced stands in both urban and rural areas at an estimated cost of US$15 billion. Funding will be mobilised from a mix of fiscal resources, private-sector investment and long-term capital from insurance companies, pension funds and other financial institutions.

In a targeted intervention, the Public Service Pension Fund will be leveraged to expand housing facilities for civil servants, with plans to deliver 1 200 units during the strategy period.

While welcoming the initiative, rural and urban planning expert Dr Nicholas Muleya cautioned that strong regulation and monitoring would be critical, particularly where private developers are involved in joint ventures on State land.

“Developers must be strictly regulated to ensure they deliver fully serviced stands and houses. They must not be allowed to sell unserviced or partially serviced stands, as some abandon projects after people have paid their hard-earned cash,” he said.

Dr Muleya also urged the Government to support struggling local authorities, especially in areas where developers have defaulted, leaving residents in completed houses without sewer or water connections.

“If Government assists local authorities in such cases, developers must be held accountable for their failures. At the same time, a conducive environment should be created for responsible private players to contribute meaningfully to housing delivery,” he said.

The programme represents one of the most comprehensive attempts in recent years to align finance, regulation and private capital in tackling Zimbabwe’s prolonged housing shortage — with the Government betting that access to mortgages will finally turn policy promises into roofs over people’s heads.

The post Bold housing finance push to tackle two-million-unit deficit appeared first on herald.

The post Bold housing finance push to tackle two-million-unit deficit appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.

Raymond Jaravaza, ray.jaravaza@chronicle.co.zw

BULAWAYO’S road network has reached a breaking point, with nearly 70 percent of the city’s 2 400-kilometre grid now classified as being in “poor condition,” leaving motorists to navigate a hazardous and costly landscape of decay.

Despite a 66 percent utilisation of its ZWG22 million road fund allocation from the Zimbabwe National Roads Administration (Zinara), the City of Bulawayo is struggling to contain the crisis. Heavy rains have further crippled the aging infrastructure, forcing commuter omnibus operators to abandon routes and leaving thousands of residents across the city’s 29 wards stranded.

Passengers who once enjoyed being dropped off near their homes are now forced to walk long distances, often late at night, exposing them to the risk of muggings and other crimes. Driving in the city centre has become a nightmare for many motorists.

“The intersection at Joshua Mqabuko Street and Fourth Avenue is very bad. When it rains, the situation gets worse as the potholes grow deeper and bigger,” said Mr Gibson Malunga, a motorist.

In several western suburbs, kombis that previously serviced multiple neighbourhood stops now terminate at a single point, forcing commuters to trek home on foot.

For Old Magwegwe resident Mr Landile Ndlovu, who buys green mealies for resale in the early hours of the morning, daily routines have become a gamble.

“In the past, I used to board a kombi near my house, which meant I didn’t have to walk in the dark. Now I walk about two kilometres to the nearest bus stop because kombis no longer come close to our homes,” he said.

Vendors and informal traders who rely on early morning travel say the deteriorating roads have compounded their hardships.

“We are forced to walk long distances because kombis avoid these bad roads. It’s not safe, especially before dawn,” said Mr Ndlovu.

The worsening state of Bulawayo’s roads has not gone unnoticed by city authorities. Acting Mayor Councillor Edwin Ndlovu said council was aware of its responsibility.

“The city council has a mandate to ensure that roads are trafficable at all times, and we will use all available resources to keep our roads in good shape going into the New Year,” he said.

However, commuter transport operators paint a grim picture. Bulawayo United Passenger Transporters Association (Bupta) chairman Mr Morgan Msipa, whose organisation operates about 1 300 kombis, said the damage to vehicles was becoming unsustainable.

“There’s a road in Richmond called Glenvire Road and it’s terrible. I feel sorry for vehicle owners who have to use it. Kombi operators are not avoiding certain routes out of malice; they simply cannot afford constant repairs,” he said.

The crisis extends into the CBD itself. At the intersection of Lobengula Street and 3rd Avenue, a crater-like pothole has for months forced drivers into dangerous manoeuvres as they dodge oncoming traffic.

BCC has since begun repairs at the intersection, with the Department of Roads estimating the cost at US$1 million. Works are still ongoing.

Council statistics indicate Bulawayo now has more than 2 400 kilometres of roads, most of which require urgent rehabilitation.

While patchwork repairs have been carried out in some areas, authorities admit that many roads need complete reconstruction to restore them to usable standards.

As the rains continue, residents fear the city’s battered road network will deteriorate further, deepening the daily struggles of motorists, commuters and businesses alike.

The post Potholes & delays. . .Bulawayo roads crumble under heavy rains appeared first on herald.

The post Potholes & delays. . .Bulawayo roads crumble under heavy rains appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.