Zim News Blog -NEWS NETWORK

As Zimbabwe’s economy adjusts to lower growth, constrained consumer spending, and intense competition, businesses are being forced to rethink not only what they sell but also how they measure success.

By Brighton Musonza

A growing body of global research now points to a clear direction: Zimbabwean companies must transform their marketing practices to become more customer-centred, data-driven and performance-focused.

In a market defined by volatility and thin margins, intuition-led marketing is no longer sufficient. Survival increasingly depends on the disciplined use of metrics that link customer behaviour directly to revenue, loyalty and long-term sustainability.

From Sales Push to Customer-Centred Strategy

For decades, many Zimbabwean firms have prioritised short-term sales volumes, price promotions and distribution reach. While these remain important, global evidence shows that customer satisfaction should now sit at the centre of marketing decision-making.

In practical terms, this means moving beyond anecdotal feedback and actively measuring how customers experience products and services. In Zimbabwe’s price-sensitive market, satisfaction is closely tied to perceived value, reliability and trust. Businesses that fail to track these factors risk losing customers quietly — not through complaints, but through disengagement.

Transforming marketing, therefore, requires embedding customer satisfaction metrics into board-level reporting, rather than treating them as soft or secondary indicators.

Building Strong Brands in a Crowded Market

Zimbabwe’s formal and informal markets are increasingly saturated, with multiple players offering similar products at similar prices. In this environment, brand awareness and recall become strategic assets.

Businesses must shift from sporadic advertising to consistent, measurable brand-building. Awareness metrics should inform decisions about where to invest marketing spend — whether in traditional media, digital platforms or on-the-ground activations — and which messages resonate most with consumers.

For local firms competing against regional and imported brands, disciplined brand measurement is essential to defending market share.

Treating Marketing Spend as Capital Allocation

One of the most urgent transformations required in Zimbabwean business is a stronger focus on return on investment (ROI) in marketing. With access to finance limited and costs rising, every dollar spent on marketing must justify itself.

This requires companies to link campaigns directly to sales outcomes, customer acquisition costs and retention rates. Marketing can no longer be viewed as a discretionary expense; it must be treated as a form of capital deployment, subject to the same scrutiny as plant, equipment or inventory.

Firms that cannot demonstrate ROI will struggle to secure internal support for marketing investment in an increasingly conservative corporate environment.

Embracing Data in an Uncertain Economy

Zimbabwe’s economic uncertainty — currency shifts, policy changes and income instability — makes data-driven decision-making more critical, not less. Businesses must invest in systems that allow them to track performance in near real time and adjust quickly.

This does not require sophisticated technology alone. Even basic dashboards tracking a small set of relevant metrics can dramatically improve decision quality. The goal is not data overload, but clarity.

Companies that systematically use quantitative metrics tend to make better decisions, coordinate activities more effectively and achieve stronger financial outcomes.

Transforming Organisational Culture

Equally important is cultural change. Research shows that rigid, top-down organisations are less effective at using metrics than flexible, adaptive firms. Zimbabwean businesses must empower marketing teams to experiment, learn and refine strategies within clear accountability frameworks.

Transformation, therefore, involves moving away from rule-bound reporting towards a culture that values insight, learning, and continuous improvement.

A Strategic Imperative, Not a Choice

For Zimbabwean businesses, transforming how marketing performance is measured is no longer optional. It is a strategic necessity in an economy where consumers are cautious, competition is fierce, and capital is scarce.

By centring on customer satisfaction, strengthening brand awareness, rigorously measuring ROI and fostering data-driven cultures, Zimbabwean firms can build resilience and relevance.

In a challenging environment, those who measure wisely will not only survive — they will set the pace for the next phase of Zimbabwe’s economic renewal.

HARARE — Zimbabwe is reassessing the structure and future of its auditing and professional services sector following the gradual withdrawal of the global “Big Four” audit firms — Deloitte, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Ernst & Young (EY) and KPMG — a shift that has reshaped corporate oversight and exposed long-standing capacity constraints within the local industry.

Senior officials say the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, working alongside Treasury and regulatory bodies, has been exploring the feasibility of developing strong domestic audit and consulting firms capable of operating to internationally recognised standards. The discussions form part of a broader government push to reduce strategic dependence on foreign professional services and to build resilient local capacity in key economic sectors.

Over the past decade, the Big Four progressively reduced their footprint in Zimbabwe, moving from full-service operations to affiliate or correspondent arrangements, and in some cases exiting entirely. Firms cited sanctions exposure, reputational risk, currency instability and challenges in fee repatriation as key constraints to continued operation.

Their departure altered the corporate services landscape. Large corporates, banks and state-linked entities increasingly rely on offshore audits or regional hubs, raising compliance costs and complicating regulatory oversight. At the same time, local audit firms were thrust into roles that require scale, specialist expertise and global credibility, often without the capital or network support previously provided by multinational firms.

Zimbabwe’s audit sector is now dominated by small to mid-sized domestic firms, many staffed by well-trained professionals but constrained by limited resources and market reach. The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Zimbabwe (ICAZ) remains the primary professional regulator, maintaining qualification standards and disciplinary processes, yet enforcement capacity remains stretched.

Regulators and market participants acknowledge persistent weaknesses in auditing complex financial structures, multinational group accounts and sophisticated risk instruments. In a small and closely connected market, concerns around auditor independence and conflicts of interest are heightened, particularly where firms rely heavily on consulting work from the same clients they audit.

These challenges have been underscored by repeated qualified audit opinions across public entities, delayed audits, and governance failures in both the private and state-owned sectors.

Against this backdrop, government officials say Zimbabwe is studying international reform models aimed at diluting excessive market concentration while strengthening domestic firms. The objective is not to exclude foreign participation, but to ensure that Zimbabwe has locally rooted firms with the capacity to audit large institutions, support capital markets and meet global reporting standards.

Policy discussions have centred on strengthening the legal and regulatory framework governing audit firms, encouraging consolidation among domestic players to achieve scale, and limiting conflicts arising from the provision of non-audit services. Authorities are also examining how audit firm networks and foreign affiliations are structured, with a view to improving transparency and accountability.

The withdrawal of the Big Four has reignited debate over whether Zimbabwe’s audit profession should continue to rely primarily on self-regulation. Globally, high-profile audit failures have prompted many jurisdictions to establish independent oversight bodies to supervise audit firms and enforce standards.

Zimbabwean policymakers are considering whether a similar independent regulatory structure could strengthen public confidence, improve enforcement and align local practices with international expectations, particularly for public interest entities such as banks, listed companies and state-owned enterprises.

A central concern in the reform debate is the blending of audit and consultancy services. While this model once allowed global firms to dominate the market, it has also been criticised for weakening auditor independence.

In Zimbabwe’s context — where economic power is concentrated among a small number of institutions and politically connected entities — regulators are assessing whether stricter separation between audit and advisory services is necessary to safeguard integrity and credibility in financial reporting.

The exit of the Big Four has forced Zimbabwe to confront structural vulnerabilities in its professional services ecosystem. Yet policymakers argue that it also presents an opportunity to reimagine the sector in a way that is more sustainable, accountable and aligned with national development goals.

As Zimbabwe seeks to restore investor confidence and deepen corporate governance reforms, the evolution of its auditing profession may prove decisive. Whether domestic firms can rise to fill the gap left by global giants will shape the credibility of financial reporting — and the broader investment climate — in the years ahead.

HARARE — The decision by Murray & Roberts Holdings to exit the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in January 2026 marks more than the end of a 123-year-old South African construction firm as a listed entity.

For Zimbabwe, it symbolises the fading of a regional construction era in which Southern African companies, rather than foreign state-backed contractors, built much of the region’s industrial and mining infrastructure.

Following a final winding-up order by the High Court of South Africa and the disposal of key operating assets linked to Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL), according to BusinessTech, the holding company confirmed that it will be delisted from the JSE, acknowledging that it is no longer commercially viable.

“There is no prospect of the company being able to distribute returns to shareholders or to re-establish operations,” the group said, adding that continued listing was no longer feasible.

The final off-market trading date for shareholders will be 13 January 2026, with formal delisting set for 19 January 2026. Trading in the company’s shares has been suspended since November 2024, when its main operating subsidiary entered business rescue.

A Builder in Zimbabwe’s Post-Independence Economy

Founded in 1902, Murray & Roberts was among the engineering and construction firms that shaped Southern Africa’s industrial backbone. In Zimbabwe, its presence was most visible in mining infrastructure, heavy engineering, industrial plants and civil works, particularly during the post-independence period when regional firms dominated large-scale projects.

Before the economic disruptions of the 2000s, Zimbabwe relied heavily on South African engineering expertise for mining development, power generation and industrial construction. Firms such as Murray & Roberts operated alongside local contractors, transferring skills, technology and project management capacity.

The decline of such regional players mirrors Zimbabwe’s broader shift away from Southern African construction firms towards Chinese, Russian and Middle Eastern contractors, often backed by state-to-state financing arrangements.

Financial Distress and Structural Industry Challenges

Murray & Roberts’ collapse as a listed company reflects structural pressures that have also affected Zimbabwe’s construction sector: delayed payments, currency instability, cost overruns and high project risk.

In its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2024, the group recorded a R646 million loss before interest and tax, a dramatic deterioration from the previous year. The losses stemmed largely from guarantees being called on troubled projects — a risk familiar to contractors operating in volatile African markets, including Zimbabwe.

In April 2025, the holding company confirmed that it had become commercially insolvent as business rescue proceedings at MRL drained its balance sheet.

Asset Sales and the Hollowing Out of the Holding Company

A central element of MRL’s business rescue plan has been the sale of its mining services operations to Differential Capital, including Cementation businesses operating in Africa and the Americas, as well as TNT operations.

While these transactions are designed to preserve operating companies and employment, they stripped Murray & Roberts Holdings of its revenue-generating assets, leaving it unable to sustain itself as a corporate entity. This ultimately triggered liquidation and delisting.

For Zimbabwe, the asset sale highlights how regional engineering capacity is increasingly being fragmented or absorbed by private equity and global capital, rather than remaining embedded within Southern African industrial ecosystems.

What the Delisting Means for Stakeholders

Following delisting, shareholders will retain stakes in an unlisted entity pending the conclusion of liquidation proceedings. Further updates will be communicated by the provisional liquidator.

The company thanked shareholders for their long-standing support, acknowledging their role in building the firm’s legacy.

A Legal Distinction with Regional Implications

Crucially, Murray & Roberts Holdings (MRH) and Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL) are separate legal entities. While MRH is being liquidated, MRL remains under business rescue and continues to operate independently under court supervision.

This distinction matters for Zimbabwean contractors, suppliers and mining clients that may still engage with MRL-linked operations.

The Broader Zimbabwean Context

The demise of Murray & Roberts as a listed company underscores a broader transformation in Zimbabwe’s construction and mining landscape. Local and regional firms that once built institutional capacity have been displaced by foreign contractors tied to concessionary finance and bilateral agreements.

While this model has accelerated infrastructure delivery, it has raised concerns about skills transfer, local participation and long-term industrial development.

For Zimbabwe, the end of Murray & Roberts’ corporate journey is not merely the collapse of a company, but the closing of a chapter in which regional engineering firms played a central role in national development.

As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild and reindustrialise, the question remains whether a new generation of locally rooted construction champions can emerge, or whether the space once occupied by firms like Murray & Roberts has been permanently ceded to external actors.

HARARE — The decision by Murray & Roberts Holdings to exit the Johannesburg Stock Exchange in January 2026 marks more than the end of a 123-year-old South African construction firm as a listed entity.

For Zimbabwe, it symbolises the fading of a regional construction era in which Southern African companies, rather than foreign state-backed contractors, built much of the region’s industrial and mining infrastructure.

Following a final winding-up order by the High Court of South Africa and the disposal of key operating assets linked to Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL), according to BusinessTech, the holding company confirmed that it will be delisted from the JSE, acknowledging that it is no longer commercially viable.

“There is no prospect of the company being able to distribute returns to shareholders or to re-establish operations,” the group said, adding that continued listing was no longer feasible.

The final off-market trading date for shareholders will be 13 January 2026, with formal delisting set for 19 January 2026. Trading in the company’s shares has been suspended since November 2024, when its main operating subsidiary entered business rescue.

A Builder in Zimbabwe’s Post-Independence Economy

Founded in 1902, Murray & Roberts was among the engineering and construction firms that shaped Southern Africa’s industrial backbone. In Zimbabwe, its presence was most visible in mining infrastructure, heavy engineering, industrial plants and civil works, particularly during the post-independence period when regional firms dominated large-scale projects.

Before the economic disruptions of the 2000s, Zimbabwe relied heavily on South African engineering expertise for mining development, power generation and industrial construction. Firms such as Murray & Roberts operated alongside local contractors, transferring skills, technology and project management capacity.

The decline of such regional players mirrors Zimbabwe’s broader shift away from Southern African construction firms towards Chinese, Russian and Middle Eastern contractors, often backed by state-to-state financing arrangements.

Financial Distress and Structural Industry Challenges

Murray & Roberts’ collapse as a listed company reflects structural pressures that have also affected Zimbabwe’s construction sector: delayed payments, currency instability, cost overruns and high project risk.

In its interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2024, the group recorded a R646 million loss before interest and tax, a dramatic deterioration from the previous year. The losses stemmed largely from guarantees being called on troubled projects — a risk familiar to contractors operating in volatile African markets, including Zimbabwe.

In April 2025, the holding company confirmed that it had become commercially insolvent as business rescue proceedings at MRL drained its balance sheet.

Asset Sales and the Hollowing Out of the Holding Company

A central element of MRL’s business rescue plan has been the sale of its mining services operations to Differential Capital, including Cementation businesses operating in Africa and the Americas, as well as TNT operations.

While these transactions are designed to preserve operating companies and employment, they stripped Murray & Roberts Holdings of its revenue-generating assets, leaving it unable to sustain itself as a corporate entity. This ultimately triggered liquidation and delisting.

For Zimbabwe, the asset sale highlights how regional engineering capacity is increasingly being fragmented or absorbed by private equity and global capital, rather than remaining embedded within Southern African industrial ecosystems.

What the Delisting Means for Stakeholders

Following delisting, shareholders will retain stakes in an unlisted entity pending the conclusion of liquidation proceedings. Further updates will be communicated by the provisional liquidator.

The company thanked shareholders for their long-standing support, acknowledging their role in building the firm’s legacy.

A Legal Distinction with Regional Implications

Crucially, Murray & Roberts Holdings (MRH) and Murray & Roberts Limited (MRL) are separate legal entities. While MRH is being liquidated, MRL remains under business rescue and continues to operate independently under court supervision.

This distinction matters for Zimbabwean contractors, suppliers and mining clients that may still engage with MRL-linked operations.

The Broader Zimbabwean Context

The demise of Murray & Roberts as a listed company underscores a broader transformation in Zimbabwe’s construction and mining landscape. Local and regional firms that once built institutional capacity have been displaced by foreign contractors tied to concessionary finance and bilateral agreements.

While this model has accelerated infrastructure delivery, it has raised concerns about skills transfer, local participation and long-term industrial development.

For Zimbabwe, the end of Murray & Roberts’ corporate journey is not merely the collapse of a company, but the closing of a chapter in which regional engineering firms played a central role in national development.

As Zimbabwe continues to rebuild and reindustrialise, the question remains whether a new generation of locally rooted construction champions can emerge, or whether the space once occupied by firms like Murray & Roberts has been permanently ceded to external actors.

NEW YORK — TikTok has emerged as the leading social media platform for news consumption among young people, overtaking long-established rivals YouTube and Instagram, according to new data released by the Pew Research Center.

The short-form video app is now the most popular source of news among Americans aged 18 to 29, marking a significant shift in how younger audiences access information and engage with current affairs. The findings underscore the growing influence of social media — and particularly creator-driven platforms — in shaping news consumption habits.

Pew’s 2025 survey shows that 43% of young adults regularly get their news from TikTok, up from 32% in 2023. By comparison, 41% cited YouTube and Facebook as regular news sources, while 40% named Instagram. Smaller proportions reported getting news from X, formerly Twitter (21%), and Reddit (18%).

The results indicate that TikTok has moved from a supplementary platform to a primary news source for a generation that increasingly bypasses traditional outlets and formats.

Social Media Dominates News Consumption

The survey found that social media has become the dominant channel for news among young adults. Seventy-six percent of respondents aged 18 to 29 said they often or sometimes get news from social platforms, compared with 60% who rely on news websites and just 28% who turn to email newsletters.

Trust levels in social media news were also notable. Around half of respondents said they have “some” or “a lot” of trust in news from social media, a level broadly comparable to their trust in national news organisations. Researchers say this reflects both changing media habits and evolving definitions of what constitutes news.

News Beyond Traditional Media

Consuming news on TikTok does not necessarily mean watching clips from established media brands. Instead, young users increasingly regard news influencers, independent creators and first-hand user-generated content as legitimate sources of information.

Videos offering commentary, explainers or on-the-ground footage from conflict zones, protests and political events are widely consumed and shared. This trend has fuelled the rise of independent news creators such as Philip DeFranco and Vitus “V” Spehar, whose @underthedesknews account has attracted a large Gen Z following.

Some traditional news organisations have adapted by placing individual journalists and creators at the centre of their TikTok strategies. NPR’s Planet Money, for example, has leaned into creator-led storytelling to build trust and relatability with younger audiences.

Gen Z users interviewed by Business Insider previously said they prefer news delivered in a conversational, authentic tone, often by individuals rather than institutions.

Creators Gain Influence in Political Reporting

The growing role of creators extends beyond commentary. Podcasters and social media personalities are increasingly involved in news gathering and political coverage. Politicians and public institutions have turned to podcasts and creator-led platforms to reach younger voters, while independent content creators had a visible presence at last year’s Democratic and Republican national conventions.

In 2025, several independent creators have applied for accreditation to attend White House press briefings, reflecting a broader shift in who is recognised as part of the media ecosystem.

TikTok Expands News and Fact-Checking Tools

As its influence grows, TikTok has introduced features aimed at supporting news dissemination and credibility. These include tools that allow publishers to link directly to articles within videos, as well as a community-driven fact-checking feature known as Footnotes, similar to “community notes” used on other platforms.

The company says it also works with independent fact-checking organisations in more than 130 markets to assess the accuracy of content on the platform.

A Changing Media Landscape

The Pew findings highlight a profound transformation in the global news landscape, where short-form video, personality-driven storytelling and social platforms are redefining how information is produced, distributed and trusted.

For media organisations, policymakers and journalists, TikTok’s rise as a primary news source among young people presents both an opportunity and a challenge: to meet audiences where they are, while safeguarding accuracy, accountability and public trust in an increasingly decentralised information ecosystem.