Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

Source: New platform for women in manufacturing launched – herald

Takunda Gambiza

Herald Reporter

THE launch of Zimbabwe Women in Manufacturing has been hailed by the Government as a major step towards inclusive industrialisation as it reinforces the need for women to play a central role in the country’s economic transformation and Vision 2030 agenda.

The event, which was held in Harare yesterday under the theme, “Empowering Women Through Manufacturing, Industrialisation and Value Addition,” was attended by Government officials, diplomats, and industry leaders.

Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister Monica Mutsvangwa, represented by Deputy Minister Kevin Mutimbanyoka, described ZWIM as the beginning of a movement to place women at the heart of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation drive.

“Today is more than the launch of an organisation. It marks the birth of a movement that seeks to position women at the centre of Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda,” she said.

Minister Mutsvangwa noted that despite women’s strong presence in SMEs, they remain underrepresented in formal manufacturing and industrial production due to barriers such as limited access to affordable finance, technology, industrial infrastructure, machinery and markets.

“The opportunity lies in unlocking the enormous potential that exists among women entrepreneurs and enabling them to transition into competitive manufacturing businesses capable of serving domestic, regional and international markets,” she said.

Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu, represented by Director of Industrial Development Dayford Nhema, said manufacturing currently contributes 14.9 percent to GDP.

He called ZWIM a “timely solution” to help transition women-led enterprises from informal micro-operations into formal, competitive manufacturing entities.

Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhou Ding congratulated the association, reaffirming China’s commitment to Zimbabwe’s industrialisation through investment, trade, and skills development.

He highlighted China’s new zero-tariff policy for imports from 53 African countries, including Zimbabwe, which is expected to boost local exports, attract investment, create jobs, and increase foreign exchange  earnings.

“Stronger exports will help attract more investment in local processing and manufacturing, which in turn will create more jobs and boost foreign exchange earnings,” Ambassador Zhou said.

Founding president Ms Rairo Gunguwo said the association aims to ensure women become active industrial leaders,  not spectators, but builders, producers, innovators, and leaders.

ZWIM plans to build a nationwide network across all 10 provinces and strengthen women’s participation in regional, continental, and global value chains.

“Today marks a signal that Zimbabwean women are stepping boldly into the future of industry not as spectators, but as builders, producers, innovators and leaders,” Ms Gunguwo said.

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Source: Zim fuel strategy inspires South Africa – herald

Rutendo Nyeve

Victoria Falls Bureau

SOUTH Africa has expressed keen interest in taking a leaf from Zimbabwe’s biofuel and ethanol blending programme, describing it as a potential game-changer in mitigating the impact of geopolitical disturbances in the Middle East, which have triggered sharp increases in fuel prices and other commodities.

This emerged following a bilateral meeting between Minister of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Water Resources Development Dr Anxious Masuka and his South African counterpart, Mr John Steenhuisen, in Victoria Falls recently.

The two ministers were laying the groundwork for a larger bi-national commission meeting next month, where several memoranda of understanding should be finalised.

Speaking after the meeting, Minister Steenhuisen acknowledged that South Africa has lagged behind Zimbabwe in adopting biofuel solutions. South Africa was now moving urgently to catch up.

“Zimbabwe has made significant progress on biofuels and biofuel ethanol mixes, which is something South Africa has lagged behind on. We are now moving to try and get those particular biofuels up and running to help reduce the input costs for our farmers,” said Minister Steenhuisen.

“It was very interesting to understand the Zimbabwe experience around ethanol and ethanol production in terms of being able to do the mix to lower the cost and reliance on oil.”

The South African minister linked the urgency directly to global shocks emanating from the Middle East, including the war in the Asian Gulf region, which has disrupted supply chains for fuel and fertilisers.

Dr Masuka said Zimbabwe is already scaling up sugarcane production to even more ethanol manufacturing to traditional sugar refining.

The country currently produces 155 million litres of ethanol a year, but has set an ambitious target of 600 million litres a year by 2035.

“We shared the experience of South Africa on our ethanol escapades and the success that we have now blending petrol into E20. South Africa is willing to learn from Zimbabwe on how we are doing that,” Dr Masuka said.

“As Zimbabwe, we are changing the whole sugar industry direction from producing sugar from sugarcane to producing more ethanol from sugarcane. We wanted to produce 600 million litres a year by 2035 from the current 155 million litres that we produce a year in terms of ethanol.”

The two ministers also discussed the broader challenges facing the region, including foot-and-mouth disease, which has now affected 11 SADC member states, as well as shortages of fertilisers and rising fuel prices linked to geopolitical tensions.

Minister Steenhuisen said the bi-national commision meeting in July will be critical for finalising outstanding MoUs, particularly those related to agriculture and trade.

“We are particularly interested in working together with Zimbabwe on combating foot and mouth disease because we are neighbours and because the disease has now impacted 11 SADC member states. We want to explore ways of deepening and widening the cooperation on that,” he said.

Dr Masuka said both nations have committed to completing the MoU process before the meeting.

“We discussed the ravaging scourge of foot and mouth disease in the SADC region, but more importantly in our two countries and the need to collaborate, harmonise our control strategy so that they could begin to trade the livestock,” he said.

The upcoming meeting is expected to cement a new era of energy and agricultural cooperation between the two neighbours, with biofuels emerging as a strategic shield against volatile global oil markets.

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Source: Child Online Protection Policy okayed – herald

Debra Matabvu

Senior Reporter

CABINET yesterday approved the Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy (2026-2030), which provides a comprehensive framework to protect children from risks associated with internet platforms, while ensuring they benefit from opportunities offered by information and communication technologies.

The framework establishes a co-ordinated national approach involving Government, the private sector, academia and communities.

It promotes standardisation and ensures that all decisions relating to children’s experiences in the digital space are aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and the Children’s Act which both protect children.

The policy is anchored on nine strategic focus areas, supported by clearly defined policy actions to achieve its objectives.

These focus areas are institutional capacity; legal and regulatory framework; prevention, response and support mechanisms; technical control and corporate responsibility; education; public awareness and communication; research and development; global cooperation and leadership; and monitoring, evaluation and learning.

Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said Government would promulgate relevant legislation with enforceable measures to safeguard children.

“Cabinet noted and approved the Online Child Protection Policy as presented by Honourable Vice President Dr (Kembo) Mohadi as Chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Social Development,” said Minister Soda.

“The Zimbabwe National Child Online Protection Policy: 2026-2030 provides a national framework to safeguard children in the digital environment, while ensuring that they benefit from opportunities offered by information and communication technologies.

“While the internet presents enormous opportunities for children, it has inadvertently increased children’s exposure to online sexual exploitation and abuse, cyberbullying, harmful content, grooming, sextortion and privacy violations.”

The policy will also promote accountability across all sectors of society and set out practical measures to mitigate online risks faced by children.

“Against this backdrop, the policy will achieve, inter-alia, the following: provide a single national framework for Government, private sector, academia, and communities at large, in keeping children safe online; ensuring that all decisions and matters relating to children’s experience in the digital space are aligned with the Constitution of Zimbabwe and Children’s Act; and promotion of accountability in all sectors of society, conditions, and practical steps to mitigate online risks that children may face,” said Minister Soda.

He also urged communities, parents and guardians to play a central role in monitoring children’s online activities.

Across the world, countries have adopted comprehensive child online protection policies to address digital risks, with countries such as Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany and France among the leaders in implementing such frameworks.

Countries such as Indonesia and Australia are also strengthening regulations, including age verification for social media platforms and strict restrictions for users under 16.

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Source: Zim on verge of clinching UNSC seat as voting begins – herald

Zvamaida Murwira

Senior Reporter

ZIMBABWE is on the cusp of a major diplomatic breakthrough as it seeks to secure a non-permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for the 2027-2028 term in today’s elections.

It was a hectic day yesterday for the Zimbabwean delegation in New York, the headquarters of the United Nations, led by Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, who held several high-level meetings as the country concluded its campaign.

The delegation wrapped up its campaign by hosting a reception attended by representatives of member states, providing Zimbabwe with a final platform to strengthen its bid as Harare seeks to participate in geopolitical discourse through the global body.

Besides hosting the reception, Prof Murwira held a bilateral meeting with Austria’s Federal Minister for European and International Affairs, Ms Beate Meinl-Reisinger, before attending a reception hosted by that country.

Five non-permanent seats on the UNSC are set to be filled today for the 2027-2028 rotational term.

Countries due to leave the council at the end of their terms are Denmark, Greece, Pakistan, Panama and Somalia.

Under UN rules, non-permanent members cannot immediately seek re-election after serving a term.

Successful candidates will join the council’s five permanent members — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — as well as current non-permanent members Bahrain, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Latvia and Liberia.

In an interview from New York, Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe had faithfully followed the roadmap laid out by President Mnangagwa, whom he described as the country’s Chief Diplomat.

“As Zimbabwe, we have been following the map as approved by His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa on how we have to move towards June 3, 2026,” he said.

“As you know, we started by having endorsement by the African Union as proposed by SADC, which means we have Africa behind us.

“We are the sole candidate of the African Union. After that, we started campaigns and moved in several regions of the world, including the Pacific region, where we were able to get an endorsement. “We then moved to the Caribbean, where we received endorsement from CARICOM countries. We also moved to Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, where we got overwhelming endorsement.”

Prof Murwira said Zimbabwe had also been working on reciprocal support arrangements with countries across the globe.

“Besides that, we were also working on reciprocal support arrangements with different countries across the world.

“These countries also include the countries of Central Asia—Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and others in the region—which are firmly behind Zimbabwe’s bid.

“As we came to New York, our strategy was to hold bilateral meetings as well as attend receptions hosted by countries that are also putting forward their candidature to the United Nations Security Council,” he said.

Prof Murwira said that the Zimbabwean delegation in New York was able to attend the Security Council meeting itself, hosted by China.

At the forum, Zimbabwe put forward its views as well as pitched its bid for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council.

They then shifted their attention to a reception hosted by Portugal and another by the Czech Republic.

On Monday, Zimbabwe held several bilateral meetings with several countries, including Portugal, which is also contesting against Austria and Germany for two seats allocated to the Western European and Others Group (WEOG).

Harare’s delegation also met representatives from the Philippines and Germany while attending various diplomatic receptions where it continued to canvass for support.

“We are very busy canvassing for support and reminding people what Zimbabwe stands for. Basically, Zimbabwe stands for a peaceful world that respects international law, promotes peaceful coexistence among nations, and advances diplomacy over confrontation through the peaceful resolution of disputes, as demanded by our Constitution.

“We are also reiterating our adherence to and faith in the UN Charter. Zimbabwe’s Constitution is modelled along the objectives of the UN Charter when it comes to international relations. We are looking forward to a very good vote.

“We are optimistic that Zimbabwe will be able to get the support it requires in tomorrow (today)’s vote.”

Zimbabwe remains committed to multilateralism and the sovereign equality of nations, added Prof Murwira.

“Zimbabwe believes in the efficacy and sustainability of multilateralism, where nations sit together at the same table and engage in dialogue. “This can only be achieved when we respect the sovereign equality of states. Among the 193 member states of the United Nations, there is no big state or small state, but rather equal members at the table.

“They may have different-sized economies, but they have equal rights and equal opportunities. This is what can make the world a better place to live. The progress we are making is very steady, and we are looking forward to a successful election,” said Prof Murwira.

He added that they “are very confident that, in line with the instructions of our Chief Diplomat, His Excellency President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, we are going to do what is necessary”.

The election of non-permanent UNSC members takes place through a secret ballot in the UN General Assembly Hall.

A country must secure a two-thirds majority of votes cast by member states present and voting.

If all 193 UN member states participate in the vote, a candidate will require at least 129 votes to secure a seat.

In the event of a tie or if no candidate attains the required two-thirds threshold in the first round, additional restricted ballots are conducted.

Under this process, votes may only be cast for candidates who received the highest number of votes in the preceding round.

Should the deadlock persist, the General Assembly may broaden the contest to include any eligible country from the unrepresented regional group.

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Source: National Youth Policy gets Cabinet approval – herald

Mukudzei Chingwere

Senior Reporter

CABINET has approved the National Youth Policy (2026–2030), a comprehensive empowerment framework aimed at addressing the most pressing challenges facing young people, particularly barriers to education, employment and overall well-being.

Speaking after yesterday’s Cabinet meeting, Information Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Dr Zhemu Soda said the policy was designed to provide targeted interventions for young women, youths with disabilities, pupils and students and unemployed young people.

It also targets those Not in Employment, Educational or Training (NEETs), youths living with HIV and Aids, youths battling substance abuse, orphaned and vulnerable children, including children living in the streets, youths in conflict with the law and those in the diaspora.

Dr Soda said special attention will be directed to the urgent NEET issue, describing it as a major hurdle to youth development.

“The National Youth Policy: 2026-2030 is a comprehensive empowerment framework designed to address challenges faced by the youth demographic group aged between 15 to 35,” said Dr Soda.

“The targeted age group comprises young women, youths with disabilities; pupils and students; unemployed youths; youth Not in Employment, Educational or Training (NEETs); youths living with HIV and Aids; youths abusing substances; orphaned and vulnerable children, including children living in the streets; youths in conflict with the law and youths in the diaspora. In particular, critical focus will be placed on the urgent issue of youth Not in Education, Employment or Training who constitute approximately 42.5 percent of the targeted youth population.”

The National Youth Policy: 2026-2030, the minister said, superseded the 2020-2025 version and was now aligned to the National Development Strategy 2 (2026-2030).

He said although the previous policy had recorded meaningful progress, particularly in supporting initiatives such as the Youth Service in Zimbabwe Programme, the launch of the Youth Fund and the establishment of the Empower Bank, the new policy went further by introducing key strategic interventions.

These were expected to open opportunities for decent job creation, entrepreneurship, technical and vocational education, recreational facilities, improved youth wellbeing and access to healthcare, gender equality and enhanced youth participation in decision-making and governance.

Dr Soda said the National Youth Policy: 2026–2030 marks a major shift from the previous version. He noted that it focuses on emerging issues affecting young people.

These include drug and substance abuse, mental health challenges, technology innovations such as artificial intelligence and automation and climate change.

He said the policy will also create new opportunities for youth-led businesses. It will support young entrepreneurs through financing, incubation, business development services and market linkages.

Dr Soda added that the policy is built on five pillars, namely; Economic Empowerment, Technology and Digital Transformation, Education and Skills Development, Health and Well-Being, and Governance.

He said it also includes cross-cutting pillars on climate change and adaptation, gender equality and inclusivity and coordination and partnerships.

On economic empowerment, he said the goal is to increase youth participation in the economy, improve livelihoods and reduce poverty.

Minister Soda added that the Government will work with ministries, development partners and the private sector under a whole-of-government and society approach.

He also noted that Youth Focal Desks have been put in place across all ministries to drive youth programmes. A separate pillar on job creation will support youth integration into the mainstream economy.

On technology and digital transformation, Minister Soda said the policy will use digital solutions to improve youth access to information and opportunities in the digital economy.

He said young people will be supported to use Digital and Community Information Centres and the free Wi-Fi hotspots to build stronger digital skills.

“The Education and Skills Development Pillar will endeavor to enhance access to quality education opportunities for youths,” said Minister Soda.

“It will ensure that the youths acquire a diverse range of skills, including academic, vocational, technical and digital competencies.  The Pillar advocates for competence based education and training to equip youths with skills for the future.

“Pertaining to the Health and Well-Being Pillar, the objective is to improve the health and well-being of young people, including addressing alcohol, drug and substance abuse. The Pillar will be executed through facilitating access to comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights information and services; and innovative health care support Programmes.

“Under the Governance Pillar, Ministries, Departments and Agencies will be obligated to fully integrate youth programmes for enhanced participation in the country’s national development and decision-making processes.

“A regulatory and legal framework will support the initiative. A Youth Bill will be promulgated to give effect to all the plans.

“The National Youth Policy will be premised upon a robust Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) framework; Communication Plan and financial architecture to support the implementation of the results-oriented plan,” said Dr Soda.

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